CPO Certification · Georgia

CPO Certification in Georgia

Georgia requires public pools and spas to run under a trained operator holding a current certificate from an approved course, and the PHTA CPO is on the state’s list.

What Georgia requires

Georgia’s rules are Chapter 511-3-5 of the Department of Public Health rules. Rule 511-3-5-.22 says covered pools and spas “shall be maintained under the supervision and direction of a properly trained operator” who holds a current certificate from an approved operator training course, with a minimum of two visits a week.

When the trained operator is not on site, a responsible on-site person who can test the water chemistry has to be appointed.

Georgia DPH lists four approved programs: ASPSA’s LAFT, Aquatic Training Institute’s CPT, NRPA’s AFO, and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance CPO.

Some pools open only to residents and their guests, such as apartment, subdivision and country club pools, may fall outside the state rule depending on your county. Your county environmental health office can tell you.

Local notes

  • County boards of health handle permits and inspections, for example Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb.
Taking the class from Georgia

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 and Saturday at 9:00 AM Pacific (noon Eastern). Pass the 50-question exam and Samuel issues your certificate the same day from the PHTA instructor portal. It is good for five years.

Neither the rule nor the DPH list says anything about classroom versus online. The PHTA CPO card is the same card either way.

$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.

See all test dates →
Questions from Georgia operators
Does Georgia require CPO certification? +
Covered pools and spas must be supervised by a trained operator with a current certificate from an approved course (Rule 511-3-5-.22). The PHTA CPO is on Georgia DPH’s approved list.
How often does the operator have to visit? +
The rule sets a minimum of two visits a week, with a trained on-site person who can test the water when the operator is not there.
What time is the Zoom test day for Georgia students? +
Test days run every Tuesday and Saturday at 9:00 AM Pacific (noon Eastern). Plan on about 6 hours; small classes usually finish early.
How fast can I get certified? +
Enroll, and PHTA sends your course login within 1 business day. The online course has an electronic handbook, so you can start right away while the printed one ships. Most people finish the coursework in about 6 hours, test days open 3 days out, and Samuel issues your certificate the same day you pass.

Get certified from Georgia.

$395 all-in. Certificate the day you pass.

Pick a Test Day →Train a Whole Team

Sources. Last reviewed September 22, 2026. This page summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Local health departments can add their own requirements, so confirm with yours.

CPO certification in other states →

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