How AOAP’s Aquatic Technician School fills gaps in field education
Over breakfast at a 2021 conference, Dewey Case of the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code and Bob Kappel of ProMinent Fluid Controls discussed the challenge of finding skilled aquatic technicians. They heard from field professionals that new technicians lacked hands-on experience, and there were few opportunities for step-by-step instruction in the broader aquatic community. Over the next two years, the Association of Aquatic Professionals (AOAP) staff and volunteers embarked on a journey to understand where support was needed and to fill the gap.
The Importance Of Hands-on Training
As in many technical industries, experienced aquatic technicians are not only difficult to find, but many are nearing retirement age. Specialized skills developed at a specific facility or within an organization may have been passed down from tech to tech, but those individuals are beginning to move on. Add in the specialized skills needed to maintain aquatic facilities, and the pool of potential candidates becomes even shallower.
It’s not uncommon to see pool operators, lifeguards, or non-aquatic maintenance personnel with little to no experience ending up as aquatic technicians who learn most of their skills on the job.
A variety of certifications are available for aquatic technicians, but much of the learning takes place behind a computer or in a classroom with few opportunities for hands-on education. New technicians can pursue core certifications, such as Aquatic Facility Operator, Certified Pool Operator, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, OSHA Safety Certifications, EPA certifications, and other positions to help build a base of operational knowledge. They can also pursue certifications required by state or local guidelines, and some technicians may seek specialized certifications.
A Worthy Investment
As in any profession, both initial and ongoing training is a key part of building a strong and sustainable workforce. Aquatic technicians who have obtained certifications often need continuing education units (CEUs) to keep those certifications current, and investment in ongoing training helps build sustainability within every organization. There are several reasons for this:
- Technology is quickly changing within the industry. Staying up-to-date with the latest tools, understanding new software and equipment, and gaining knowledge of trends within the industry are necessary to keep existing facilities running and to be prepared for future projects.
- Industry standards are also changing. Updates to local and state codes or changes to the Model Aquatic Health Code and OSHA standards affect aquatic technicians’ daily duties, and opportunities to understand these codes help keep pools safe.
- Aquatic technicians are a key part of every facility’s risk-management plan. Education on how techs impact risk management within a facility is paramount to making them strong links in the safety chain.
- These educational opportunities also foster creativity and innovation. Aquatic technicians who attend training outside their organization bring back fresh ideas.
- Additionally, ongoing training can help technicians develop “soft skills,” such as communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making, which better prepare them for leadership roles within an organization.
The AOAP Aquatic Technician School
From Case and Kappel’s 2021 conversation grew not only an idea to train aquatic technicians but also a solid and executable plan. AOAP staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to create a two-day, practical learning experience. In 2024, the Aquatic Technician School was launched. The inaugural class’s 15 students left with knowledge and skills to better equip them for work in the field, a broader understanding of their obligations and duties, and a new network of peers and subject-matter experts to provide additional resources as needed.
“The operational concepts of the tech school [are to] solicit the top professionals in the aquatic product manufacturing, design, operations, management service to elevate the skillset of current and incoming technicians, [and to] protect the integrity of our industry by training with an eye towards the future health of the aquatics industry,” Kappel says of the school’s tenets. With that in mind, he, along with AOAP Deputy Director Mark Bassnight and Robert “Bob” Bradley from the City of Raleigh, embarked on a journey to find the right mix of topics and instructors. Students were exposed to 16 hours of in-depth instruction covering topics from water chemistry and automated controllers to heaters, filters, and even legal considerations.
Bassnight, a 30-year industry veteran, notes, “Tech School allows attendees to focus in on specialized areas that are not necessarily offered via our traditional [education] sessions with hands-on training. Tech talk is a different language than operational talk, and our school allows more of an apples-to-apples setting for attendees.” That sentiment was echoed by the 2024 attendees as well.
Jeneea Jervay-Bush, MS, CPRP, AFO, is the Recreation Supervisor for Aquatics for the City of Glendale, Ariz. At the time of the class, Jervay-Bush had just begun her first year in aquatics managing staff, programming, and operations at a multi-generation recreation center, two pools, and four splash pads. She says she “needed as much technical information and insight” as she could obtain. Aquatic Technician School seemed like a good fit and an opportunity to hear about “the work experience of aquatic technicians with years or decades of experience.”
Although she doesn’t perform the day-to-day maintenance of her facilities, she was able to apply her learnings as she led her team. “I asked questions of my aquatic-maintenance staff of three that I gathered from the school when I got back home,” she says. The employees were able to show her processes and involve her in their discussions. “Those conversations drove forward progress on multiple fronts,” she says.
Bradley saw many attendees share similar experiences. The most impactful part of Aquatic Technical School, he says, was that a “small group program with in-depth instruction from industry experts providing time for individual questions and answers” helped students get the most from the program.
Kappel, Bradley, and Bassnight have been hard at work preparing for another successful Aquatic Technician School in 2025. Subject-matter experts will present 13 education sessions, and six of these will involve hands-on learning with equipment in the classroom or on the pool deck. With registration available to only 36 students, the administrative team is excited to see the program grow while maintaining the small-group, individualized atmosphere. Long-term, the team hopes to see Aquatic Technician School grow into a fundamental educational opportunity for technicians around the country, with options for techs in various stages of their careers.
Ultimately it’s about keeping the aquatic industry moving forward. “Our hands-on approach provides a deeper insight and understanding into the hows and whys of pool operations. By providing techs with up-to-date information and practices, the swimming community and our industry is enhanced,” Bassnight says.
The 2025 Aquatic Technician School will take place February 3-4 during the AOAP Annual Conference and Expo in St. Petersburg, Fla. Learn more about the school at https://bit.ly/3Xge5fu or reach out to info@aquaticpros.org.
