The pool and spa industry is facing a shortage
of skilled workers who
can service and maintain
aquatic environments. To address
this challenge, the Pool & Hot Tub
Alliance (PHTA) launched a nationwide
apprenticeship program that offers a
comprehensive and flexible training
pathway for aspiring pool technicians.
The PHTA Registered Pool Maintenance
and Service Technician Apprenticeship
Program is registered with the U.S.
Department of Labor and uses industry-developed
competency and ANSI-approved
standards developed by
PHTA.
The program combines paid on-the-job training with online education,
allowing apprentices to learn and earn
at the same time. Apprentices receive
a skills-based education that prepares
them for good-paying jobs in the pool
and spa profession. They also earn
a nationally recognized credential
from the Department of Labor upon
completion of the program.
PHTA Chairman of the Board Charlie
Claffey, president of Claffey Pools, says
it best, “The PHTA apprenticeship
program was developed to provide a
career path for individuals interested in
our industry. As much as we need more
skilled labor, apprentices need and want
a path to grow and develop a trade that
will serve them well into the future.
With the education and training, the
apprenticeship program is the right fit
for any apprentice.
The pool and spa industry is facing a shortage
of skilled workers who
can service and maintain
aquatic environments. To address
this challenge, the Pool & Hot Tub
Alliance (PHTA) launched a nationwide
apprenticeship program that offers a
comprehensive and flexible training
pathway for aspiring pool technicians.
The PHTA Registered Pool Maintenance
and Service Technician Apprenticeship
Program is registered with the U.S.
Department of Labor and uses industry-developed
competency and ANSI-approved
standards developed by
PHTA.
The program combines paid on-the-job training with online education,
allowing apprentices to learn and earn
at the same time. Apprentices receive
a skills-based education that prepares
them for good-paying jobs in the pool
and spa profession. They also earn
a nationally recognized credential
from the Department of Labor upon
completion of the program.
PHTA Chairman of the Board Charlie
Claffey, president of Claffey Pools, says
it best, “The PHTA apprenticeship
program was developed to provide a
career path for individuals interested in
our industry. As much as we need more
skilled labor, apprentices need and want
a path to grow and develop a trade that
will serve them well into the future.
With the education and training, the
apprenticeship program is the right fit
for any apprentice.
“I love our industry, and it has
provided me with opportunities that
I never could have dreamt of. Now
the time is right to train and develop
the workforce for the future, not only
for my business, but for the industry
as a whole. The PHTA apprenticeship
program is the right program for
anyone interested in our great and
thriving industry.”
The program benefits both
employers and employees in the
pool and spa industry. Employers can
recruit, build and retain a highly skilled
workforce that meets their specific
needs and standards. They can also
access various incentives and tax credits
for hiring apprentices. Employees gain valuable work experience, mentorship,
and career advancement opportunities.
They can also access scholarships,
grants, and other financial assistance to
support their education.
The PHTA apprenticeship program
is designed to be accessible and
adaptable to different regions, markets
and business models. The program has
a flexible duration of 12 to 24 months,
depending on the employer’s preference
and the apprentice’s progress.
The program also has a modular
curriculum that covers topics such as
water chemistry, filtration, circulation,
sanitation, safety, electrical systems,
automation, troubleshooting, customer
service and more.
Dave Thompson, CEO of Swimming
Pool Services in Wisconsin, is an active
employer in the program. “The PHTA
apprenticeship program is helping us
take inexperienced service technicians
and grow them into lead technicians
much faster,” he says. “Their growth is
allowing Swimming Pool Services to
take on more business and meet the
demand in our area.”
The PHTA apprenticeship program
is a valuable investment for the
pool and spa industry. It helps to
create a pipeline of qualified service
professionals who can meet the
growing demand for pool and spa
maintenance and service. It also helps
to elevate the pool and spa profession
as a skilled trade that offers rewarding
career opportunities.
The PHTA Service Council was
instrumental in the development
and launch of the apprenticeship
program. Council Chair Alexa Blanda
of Mill Bergen Pools explains, “The
PHTA Service Council was focused on
delivering a program built by members,
for members. We are excited to see the
growth of the program since its launch
and to serve our industry’s greatest
need. In partnership with the US DOL,
our industry has a program that delivers
and creates a pathway for employers to
train their staff and attract their future
workforce.”
Employers interested in hiring
apprentices through this program can
visit apprenticeship.phta.org to sign
up. The apprentice program is open to
anyone in the industry, and participation
is free for PHTA members. There is
a fee for the additional education
provided by PHTA.
The apprenticeship program is a
cornerstone of the new PHTA workforce
development initiative called Work In
Aquatics. Work In Aquatics includes
a consumer-facing career website,
workinaquatics.com, that discusses all
of the benefits of working in the pool
and spa industry, as well as career
pathways, case studies, facts and
figures, and real-world testimonials
from people currently working in the
industry. Work In Aquatics also provides
an overview of the apprenticeship
program and the jobs that qualify for
apprenticeships.
Another key feature of Work In
Aquatics is the online job board,
careers.workinaquatics.com, which
allows PHTA members to upload any
open job positions, including those that
could be a fit for the apprenticeship
program. This industry-specific job
board will attract thousands of viable
candidates who are specifically looking
to work with pools, spas and aquatic
facilities. PHTA members are able to
post as many job listings as they would
like for free through the end of 2023.
“The only barrier limiting the
growth of our industry is a lack of
new talent; otherwise, the sky’s the
limit,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE,
president and CEO of PHTA. “We’re
ready to welcome a fresh generation
of skilled professionals to join this
exciting industry and those already
in the workforce who may be looking
for something new. With endless
opportunities for career progression
and a place for truly everyone, we want
to remind jobseekers that a rewarding
career in a thriving industry is within
reach, and especially for those without a
college degree.”
The workforce development program
will continue to grow and develop new
tools and resources for both employers
and jobseekers in the industry.
PHTA is proud to have worked
closely with its membership in order to
develop these programs and offer new
ways to help grow and educate a skilled
workforce for its members and the
industry as a whole.
If you have any questions or would
like to get involved, please contact the
PHTA Workforce Team at [email protected].