Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Launch Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2021

Media Contact:
Janay Rickwalder, CAE
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
703-357-3918 | jrickwalder@phta.org

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Launch Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program

(Alexandria, Va.) - Today, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) launched the Registered Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program to help build a more skilled and diverse workforce, expand the workforce of service professionals in the aquatics industry. As a registered apprenticeship program, this program has been validated by the U.S. Department of Labor and provides employers access to larger talent pools. 

Free to PHTA members, the program will help close the skills gap in the pool and hot tub industry by allowing individuals to earn wages while receiving hands-on training to successfully fill the need for skilled service technician and maintenance professionals.

“Now more than ever, the pool industry is seeking a workforce to keep up with the demand of our products and services,” said PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “The PHTA Registered Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program will expand opportunities to reskill displaced workers, upskill incumbent workers, and develop new entrants to the workforce.”

“We are excited to offer our industry the opportunity to develop a skilled and educated workforce, through our apprenticeship program,” said PHTA Chairman of the Board Franceen Gonzales. “In partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, we will deliver a program that exceeds our members' expectations and creates a new funnel of talented and trained employees.”

The PHTA Registered Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program will leverage PHTA's signature educational programming, aligned to its ANSI Standards and certifications, to cultivate pool service professionals who will be equipped to service and maintain aquatic environments. Upon completion of the program, apprentices will be eligible to take the exam for the PHTA certifications. 

For more information and resources on the PHTA Apprenticeship Program, visit apprenticeship.phta.org.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance 

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with nearly 3,500 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of swimming, water safety and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.