PHTA Certified Pool & Spa Operator® Certification
How the blended CPO course works, what is covered, and what your certification lets you do.
All of this in your $395.
One price. No add-ons. Every student gets the full stack.
PHTA CPO Fusion Online Course
About 6 hours of self-paced PHTA online learning. Stop and start whenever. Your course access stays active for 6 months.
Live Test Day with Samuel
A single day, about 6 hours, in-person at your facility or on Zoom. Small classes finish early. Live Q&A, a pool deck walk when the class is on-site, and the proctored exam.
5-Year PHTA Certification
Pass the exam and Samuel issues the official PHTA CPO credential the same day, from the instructor portal. Recognized by health departments nationwide. Valid five years.
PHTA Certified Pool Operator Handbook
The official PHTA reference handbook, latest edition. You can start reading it online the day you enroll.
Lifetime Operator Community
Every student joins the CPO PRO WhatsApp community and keeps that access for life. Ask about your own pool, your own equipment, your own inspection, long after certification. No expiry, no extra charge.
3 Exam Attempts Included
Per PHTA rules effective September 2025, you get your initial exam plus up to two retakes within six months. All three attempts are included in your tuition. Samuel proctors the retakes and CPO PRO covers the PHTA retake fee.
Three clear steps.
Enroll & Get Set Up
Pick your test date, pay online, and receive your booking confirmation right away. We register you with PHTA, and your online course login arrives by email directly from PHTA within 1 business day.
Complete the Online Course
Work through about 6 hours of self-paced PHTA modules. Aim for 80%+ on practice tests before your test day.
Attend Test Day & Pass
Join Samuel, in-person or Zoom. 50-question proctored exam. Pass, and Samuel issues your certificate the same day from the PHTA instructor portal.
Plan ahead: Test days open as soon as tomorrow. You get the electronic handbook and course material right after you enroll, and the course takes about 6 hours. Your course access stays active for 6 months, so booking further ahead is never a problem.
12 topic areas from the PHTA CPO curriculum.
- 01 Pool & Spa Management Fundamentals
- 02 Regulations & Guidelines (CDC, CMAHC, ISPSC)
- 03 Essential Calculations (Flow, Turnover, Dosing)
- 04 Water Contamination & Disinfection
- 05 Water Balance (LSI, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, TDS)
- 06 Chemical Testing, Feed & Control
- 07 Water Circulation & Filtration Systems
- 08 Heating & Air Handling
- 09 Spa & Therapy Pool Operations
- 10 Facility Safety & Record Keeping
- 11 Troubleshooting
- 12 Facility Renovation & Design
Manageable, if you have prepared.
50 multiple-choice questions. 37 correct to pass. 3-hour limit. Proctored live by Samuel on your chosen date.