Certified Maintenance Specialist® (CMS®) Course

November 21–23, 2026 (Sat., Sun, & Mon.)
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST | All 3 Days
Live Online Training
Cost: $849.00

Take your pool maintenance career to the next level with the PHTA Certified Maintenance Specialist® (CMS®) Course, designed for pool professionals who want to build a strong foundation in pool maintenance, equipment, water quality, safety, and industry standards.

This comprehensive 3-day course takes you through the PHTA Service Technician Manual and provides the knowledge and skills needed to perform professional pool maintenance while conforming to industry standards.

What’s Included

Your $849 registration includes:

• Live online CMS instruction
• PHTA Service Technician Manual
• CMS Workbook
• Approximately 24 CEUs
• Eligibility to sit for the CMS examination upon completion of the course

Who Should Take This Course?

The CMS course is designed for:

• Pool professionals new to the industry
• Pool service and maintenance technicians
• Individuals currently working a pool maintenance route
• Professionals looking to advance their pool industry career
• Anyone wanting to strengthen their technical knowledge of pool systems and maintenance

No previous industry experience is required. PHTA highly recommends completing a Certified Pool Operator® (CPO®) course first, although it is not required to take the CMS course.

What You’ll Learn

The course covers the major areas a professional pool maintenance technician needs to understand, including:

• Safety & Health
• Customer Service & Legal Considerations
• Pool Mathematics
• Water Quality
• Pool Structures & Finishes
• Circulation Systems
• Filtration
• Electrical Components
• Pool Heaters
• Chemical Feeders & Chemical Generators
• Control Systems
• Pool Maintenance

The curriculum is designed to give students a strong understanding of pool circulation and filtration, water quality, electrical systems, structures and finishes, heaters and controls, chemical feeding and generation equipment, control systems, maintenance procedures, and customer service.

CMS Examination

After completing the course, students are eligible to take the CMS examination.

The examination consists of:

• 75 multiple-choice questions
• Open-book format
• 75% or higher passing score required to earn the CMS designation

Earn 24 CEUs

The CMS course provides approximately 24 continuing education units (CEUs) and covers the essential technical and professional knowledge needed by today’s pool maintenance professionals.

Your Instructor – Chris Lightenberg

Chris Lightenberg, CBP, CSP, CPO, PHTA Instructor

Chris Lightenberg brings more than 45 years of teaching and hands-on training experience to the pool and spa industry. His extensive background includes pool and spa sales, service, construction, manufacturing, water safety, competitive swimming and diving, scuba diving, and industry education.

Chris is a PHTA Certified Instructor, Certified Building Professional (CBP), Certified Service Professional (CSP), and Commercial Pool Operator (CPO). His decades of practical industry experience provide students with real-world knowledge they can apply directly to their work.

Course Details

Course: Certified Maintenance Specialist® (CMS®)
Dates: November 21–23, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST each day
Format: Live Online Training
Instructor: Chris Lightenberg
Cost: $849.00
Course Materials: PHTA Service Technician Manual & CMS Workbook
CEUs: Approximately 24
CMS Exam: 75-question, open-book examination; 75% passing score required

Take the Next Step in Your Pool Career

Whether you’re new to pool maintenance or an experienced service professional looking to strengthen your technical skills, the PHTA Certified Maintenance Specialist® course provides practical knowledge you can apply directly to your work.

Register today for the November 21–23, 2026 CMS course and become a Certified Maintenance Specialist®.

🔁 Change & Refund Policy

Class Changes

If you must change your class date within 7 days of your scheduled Zoom session, a $50 change fee will apply. This fee must be paid before attending the next available session.

Refund Policy

View full refund policy here:
👉 https://cpocertified.com/refund-policy/