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COST: $849.00
This course takes you through the PHTA Service Tech Manual and gives you what you need to know to conform to industry standards. After completing this course, the student will have gained a strong understanding of safety, pool circulation and filtration, pool maintenance, and water quality; learned about other important topics such as electrical systems, pool structures and finishes, heaters and controls, and customer service; and earned a name for yourself in the pool industry as a maintenance person in the know!
Registrants for the course receive a copy of the PHTA Service Tech Manual and the CMS Workbook.
Designed for those new to the pool industry or working a pool maintenance route, this course takes you through the PHTA Service Tech Manual and gives you what you need to conform to industry standards.
You must successfully pass (by scoring 75% or better) a 75-question, open-book, multiple-choice to earn the designation.
Learn more about the course benefits
Due to licensing requirements, some states do not require completion of the CMS course, in which case a candidate must still be able to document completion of 24 hours of continuing education (CEU) and pass the CMS exam.
CMS® Course Benefits and Requirements
How You Will Benefit
1. Advance your career and earn the in-demand skills employers want.
2. Become eligible to sit for the CMS exam.
3. Earn 24 CEUs.
After completing this pool maintenance certification course, you will have
1. Gained a strong understanding of safety, pool circulation and filtration, pool maintenance, and water quality.
2. earned about other important topics such as electrical systems, pool structures and finishes, heaters and controls, and customer service.
3. Earned a name for yourself in the pool industry as a maintenance person in the know.
Prerequisites to Apply (no industry experience required!
1. Successful completion of the Certified Maintenance Specialist® (CMS®) course (for those candidates that practice in states that require the CMS for licensing, please read the “Information for States Requiring Certification” section below).
2. Pass the CMS Exam.
3. Highly recommend taking a Certified Pool Operator CPO Course first.
Virtual Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS)™ Course Live Online | January 6–15, 2026 Become a Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS)™ with this convenient live virtual training, designed for today’s busy professionals. This class is taught in …
Chris Lightenberg CBP, CSP, CPO, PHTA Instuctor
Chris Lightenberg has not just a career but an entire lifetime spent in, on, under, or around water. A former competitive swimmer, springboard diver, swim and dive team coach, lifeguard, water safety instructor, TA for USF scuba course, first mate on a dive boat, and advanced PADI certified diver details his user experiences. Followed with 20 years of spa and pool sales, service, and construction experience. He has another 20 years in manufacturing sales, and over 45 years of teaching and hands-on training experience. This includes over two decades with NSPI, APSP, NESPA, LIPSA, CONSPA, and PHTA combined. This knowledge base has provided Chris with a unique perspective to the industry and education.
Chris is a Certified PHTA Instructor along with a Certified Building Professional (CBP), Certified Service Professional (CSP), and a Commercial Pool Operator (CPO) designations. Currently I’m working to help launch Cocktail Pools a precast one piece concrete plunge pools. This eliminates the high labor demand and shortens the installation time to weeks rather than months.
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