The pool service industry has long been the unsung hero of the trades—like the person at the party who does all the hard work but gets no credit for the fun everyone had. It’s time we set the record straight about all of that effort that goes relatively unnoticed. With that in mind, let’s explore the Swimming Pool Services’ (SPS) Apprenticeship Program—how it started, how it works, and why it’s helping the pool service industry finally get the recognition it deserves.
How the Service Apprenticeship Program Came into Play
With efforts made by the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and the Department of Labor, the PHTA Service Technician Apprenticeship Program was created as a professional outlet for recognizing the pool service industry as a trade. The program is a two-year structured program, fit for full-time apprentices who are ready for a learn-and-earn experience. Shortly after its release in 2022, SPS adopted this program to better prepare pool service company professionals.
“I feel like we hold ourselves to a higher standard than a lot of pool companies. We are striving for that client experience. And so, when I think of the Service Technicians being able to hone in on their skills and not just be the pool boy, you know, that we are holding ourselves to a higher standard and we’re walking a little bit taller with our head up, and we want our clients to acknowledge that,” explains Joshua Rouse, Service Manager at Swimming Pool Services.
The pool industry is growing, and the demand for service professionals has never been higher. We are emerging from the pool boy stigma and are increasingly seen as pool professionals providing top-notch weekly pool service.
Becoming a Pool Service Technician
Being part of our Service Technician Apprenticeship Program provides a hands-on training experience with an experienced mentor, with additional online training offered at no charge to the apprentice. “[Swimming Pool Services is] looking for people to make an investment in,” clarifies Rouse. Within the program, each apprentice is required to complete a series of skills assessments.
Swimming Pool Services enjoys rewarding professional growth. As such, with every program segment the apprentice completes before the two-year mark, they receive a twenty-five-cent pay increase. This equates to earning more than a $4 raise in two years.
Duties of a Pool Service Technician Apprentice
“As a Service Technician, you’re working with your hands. That’s just the premise of what you’re doing day in and day out. Every pool is different. The hydraulics are different. The way the pool operates is completely different. So, it never gets boring. It makes your job and your day just more engaging, more interesting, and more versatile,” admits Rouse.
SPS Service Technicians provide both pool and hot tub service to keep people healthy and safe in their backyard paradises. Examples of Service Technician duties include:
- Evaluating equipment and fixture performance for proper operating conditions and/or replacement.
- Determining structural and surface conditions and failures of pools and spas.
- Servicing, maintaining, and troubleshooting pool and spa operating systems.
The Overall Goal of the Service Technician Apprenticeship Program
The goal for the apprentice is that, after completing the program, they are able to run their truck, either as a solo or lead technician. As Rouse sums up, “The bigger goal or desire that we would like to see happen out of this program is that you’re basically creating a system that is reproducing reproducers.”
To learn more about the Apprenticeship Program and apprentice expectations, visit Apprenticeship Program.
