DeRosa Aquatic Consulting
POOL OPERATOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
STATE / COUNTY POOL OPERATOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Below are links to swimming pool codes from around the country. While we make every effort to keep the state codes section of our website up-to-date, occasionally state codes will be updated or moved to a new web address. If your state or county code is no longer found at the listed location, has been moved or updated, or is not listed below, please let us know. A link to the new location or code would be greatly appreciated.
| State | Operator Training Requirements | PPM Recognized | PPM+ Recognized |
| Alabama | No | - | - |
| Jefferson County | "Knowledge" Requirement" | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| Alaska | Yes | No | Yes |
| Arizona | No | - | - |
| Arkansas | Recommended | - | Yes |
| California - California - San Diego Cnty | No | - | - |
| Colorado | Yes | No | Yes |
| Connecticut | "Knowledge" Requirement" | Yes* | Yes* |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Florida | Yes - 16 hour course required | No | Yes |
| Georgia | Yes | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| Hawaii | No | - | - |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Illinois + | Recommended Training + | See "+" below | See "+" below |
| Indiana | No | - | - |
| Iowa | Yes | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| Kansas | No | - | - |
| Kentucky | No | - | - |
| Louisiana | No | - | - |
| Maine | No | - | - |
| Maryland | Yes - State-Issued Certification Req'd | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes (Accepted) | Yes (Strongly Recommended) |
| Michigan | No | - | - |
| Minnesota | Yes | Will likely be approved ++ | Will likely be approved ++<< /td> |
| Mississippi | No | - | - |
| Missouri | No | - | - |
| Montana | No | - | - |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nevada | No | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| New Hampshire | No | - | - |
| New Jersey | Yes | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| New Mexico | No | - | - |
| New York | Operator must be "familiar" with equipment | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| Suffolk County | Yes | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| North Dakota | No | - | - |
| Ohio | Training, not Certification, Req'd | Yes** | Yes** |
| Oklahoma | Training, not Certification, Req'd | Yes** | Yes** |
| Oregon | No | - | - |
| Pennsylvania | Requires operators to obtain credit in various Core and Category areas | Yes | Yes |
| Rhode Island | No | - | - |
| South Carolina | Requires state licensure | Yes | Yes |
| South Dakota | No | - | - |
| Tennessee | No | - | - |
| Texas | Yes | Yes*** | Yes*** |
| Utah | - | - | |
| Vermont | Operators must be "qualified" | Yes**** | Yes**** |
| Virginia | No | - | - |
| West Virginia | Yes | Pending Approval | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Pending Approval | Pending Approval |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes (Accepted) | Yes (Strongly Recommended) |
Note: Operators in states where the state regulatory agency does not require pool operator certification or training should check with their local health department. In some instances, local or county regulations mandate training and/or certification even thought the state code does not.
- Connecticut: The Connecticut Department of Health does not approve pool operator programs even though the state regulations require a pool operator to be "knowledgeable" in pool operations. We believe the PPM and PPM+ programs will help operators meet the knowledge requirement established by the state code.
** Ohio/Oklahoma: Both states required that pool operators be "trained" but fail to specify whether certification is needed. Oklahoma recommends pool operators participate in certification courses. We believe our PPM and PPM+ programs will help operators meet the training requirement established by the state codes.
*** Texas: Texas Department of Health states that aquatic facilities (and not the Texas Dept. of Health) must determine whether individual programs are "equivalent" to the programs listed in the applicable state regulation. We believe the PPM and PPM+ programs are equivalent to the programs listed in the Texas code. .
**** Vermont: Health Regulations is Vermont require pool operators to be "qualified" in the operation of pool equipment, and chemical testing procedures. We believe our PPM and PPM+ programs will help operators meet the "qualification" requirement established by the state code.
- Illinois: The Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code (77 Illinois Admin Code 820) does not require pool operator certification. However, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health strongly encourages pool operators/managers to receive certification and offers a "self-study" course to prepare pool operators to sit for the state's Swimming Pool Operator's Certification Exam. Successful completion of the exam qualifies the operator/manager to be awarded as certificate as a Certified Swimming Pool Operator by the Illinois Department of Public Health. We believe our PPM and PPM+ programs will qualify pool operators to sit for the exam with the added benefit of having achieved a nationally-recognized certification.
++ Minnesota: State law mandates CPO or AFO certification. Without language recognizing an "equivalent" program, only CPO and AFO prorams will be recognized in Minnesota absent a variance request and payment of the applicable variance application fees. If a group wishes to host a PPM+ workshop in Minnesota, we will work with the state to obtain the required variance. To date, PPM+ has never been rejected as an "equivalent" training program to the CPO or AFO programs.
If approval is pending, or if your local health department is not familiar with the courses, we are more than happy to speak to your local health agent and provide whatever documents are necessary to receive approval in that jurisdiction. The two-day PPM+ course was specifically designed to meet or exceed the training requirements in all states. The one-day (9 hour) PPM course is not recognized in states that require a minimum 16 hour course, such as Florida and Alaska.