There are several courses accepted for the certification of operators of commercial pools. These include:
- Certified Pool Technician (CPT™)--offered by Aquatic Training Institute;
- Certified Pool Operator (CPO™)—offered by National Swimming Pool Foundation;
- Aquatic Facilities Operator (AFO™)—offered by National Recreation and Parks Association;
- Pool Operators on Location (POOL™)—offered by YMCA;
- Licensed Aquatic Facility Technician (LAFT™)—offered by American Swimming Pool and Spa Association;
- North Shore Certified Pool Operator (NSCPO™)—offered by North Shore Lifesaving Association.
Generally, courses are approved or recognized by the Department of Health of the state in which they are offered. Once accepted, a course is deemed equal to other certification courses recognized in that state. No course provider has the authority to accept, recognize, or deny a program offered by another.
Only the Certified Pool Technician program offered by the Aquatic Training Institute is both accredited (ANSI/IACET), nationally recognized and can be taken completely online.