After teaching these valuable classes for about a ¼ of a century and now getting prepared to teach another in the beautiful Alaska mountains I had a few thoughts I wanted to share that might be valuable to those who are intending to attend one.
- Not all courses are equal. Some Instructors will simply read the book, look for enthusiasm, ask around, talk to others who have attended their courses if possible.
- Prepare for the course, it is only 2 days, and a ton is crammed into those few hours, so a few tips.
- Read your CPO® manual, especially if you are new to pool operation, understanding the basic equipment function will help a bunch.Practice your basic math skills.Pack marker pens and Post-it notes, the test is open book, so the key is to know where to find the answers.Plan to spend the first night of the course reading over Day 1 chapters.
- Most folks are not used to timed tests at this stage of our careers, it is important to relax before the test begins, and answer all of the simple questions first, so you get a rhythm established.
- Keep in mind that you will have the chance to meet other pool operators at the course so will have the opportunity to create connections that could very well be useful to you in the future.
- Your CPO® Instructor is also a potential resource for you going forward.
So, dig into this opportunity with enthusiasm and optimism, your role in the commercial pool industry is a critical and valuable one, always remember how important you are to a clean, functional, and safe aquatic environment.