CPO Certification in Alabama
Alabama has no statewide pool code. County boards of health write their own rules, and the ones we checked require a trained operator and name the PHTA course.
The Alabama Department of Public Health does not publish a statewide public pool rule. County health departments permit and inspect public pools, and several county boards of health have adopted pool rules of their own.
Baldwin County (county rule 499-05-01, section 11.2): public pools and spas “shall be maintained under the supervision and direction of a properly trained operator.” The rule names the National Swimming Pool Foundation operator course, which is now the PHTA CPO, or a state or local course the county health department approves. The county wants proof of that training before it issues an operating permit.
Shelby County: public pools and spas run under a CPO, and operators “shall be certified.” The county rule names the National Swimming Pool Foundation course (now PHTA), the Aquatic Training Institute course, or a course the health department approves.
Jefferson County (Birmingham) issues operating permits, inspects public pools monthly, and teaches the PHTA CPO course itself from time to time.
One online course and one live test day.
You do the PHTA CPO Fusion coursework online at your own pace, about 6 hours for most people, then join Samuel on Zoom for one live test day. Test days run every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 AM Pacific (11 AM Central). Pass the 50-question exam and Samuel issues your certificate the same day from the PHTA instructor portal. It is good for five years.
Baldwin County is the exception. Its health department does not accept a 100% virtual CPO course, so if you live or work in Baldwin County (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, Daphne, Fairhope), checkout won’t sell you a seat in the virtual class. Call Samuel about an on-site class for your team. We don’t know of another Alabama county that turns the virtual class down, but if yours has its own pool rule, it never hurts to ask your inspector.
$395 covers the course, the printed PHTA handbook, the live test day, the proctored exam, the certification, two retakes proctored by Samuel (PHTA charges $75 per retake), a free copy of The Pool Operator Playbook, and lifetime access to the CPO PRO operator community.
Get certified from Alabama.
$395 all-in. Certificate the day you pass.
Sources. Last reviewed September 25, 2026. This page summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Local health departments can add their own requirements, so confirm with yours.