On April 1, 2019, a historic event in the pool,
spa, and hot tub industry
took place: the Association
of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) and
the National Swimming Pool Foundation
(NSPF) unified the industry by merging
into one organization, the Pool & Hot
Tub Alliance (PHTA).
Prior to the merger, the two
associations had been competing
with each other not only for members,
students, and event attendees, but
industry resources overall. The industry
was inundated with rumors, conflicting
programs, and misinformation that
led to confusion among industry
professionals.
In hindsight, the unification could
not have come at a better time. Less
than one year later, the world changed
with the outbreak of the COVID-19
pandemic. PHTA jumped into action to
help its members, from drafting letters
to government officials requesting that
our industry professionals be deemed
“essential workers” to creating a toolkit
of resources and moving its educational
offerings to online virtual or on-demand
courses.
The pool, spa, and hot tub industry
boomed more than anyone could have
anticipated during 2020-2021, and
PHTA grew with it. Now, at its fiveyear
birthday celebration, with 3,900
member companies (a 25% increase
since the unification) across the globe,
PHTA is fulfilling its mission to educate,
advocate, and elevate the industry. Here
are just a few of the achievements that
highlight the past five years.
EDUCATE
One part of the merger that caused
some angst was what would happen
to GENESIS, the premier education
program for pool construction, design,
and engineering. After becoming part of
PHTA, GENESIS enjoyed a rebrand and
created a logical pathway for certification.
Since 2021, nearly 1,000 students have
started on the Certified Pool Builder & Design Professional Pathway, with
more than 50 professionals earning
the highest designation of Master CBP.
GENESIS continues to lead the way with
the highest quality of instruction across
on-demand, virtual, and in-person
training. It continues to expand its list of
esteemed faculty, adding new courses
that industry professionals need to
succeed, and developing new events and
resources such as MasterMind and the
Pool Professionals Podcast.
PHTA also certifies nearly 40,000
Certified Pool & Spa Operators (CPOs)
each year, with 2024 expected to
exceed the numbers from 2019, the
most successful year on record. PHTA
established the CPO Advisory Council,
led by a dedicated group of CPO
Instructors who have helped to elevate
and streamline the program and work
hand-in-hand with PHTA staff to update
and improve the CPO course and exam
on a continuous basis.
The success of the CPO program has
led to the creation of the PHTA Certified
Pool Service Professional Pathway,
which launched in 2023. This pathway
encourages pool service professionals
to build upon the knowledge learned as
a CPO and expand their skills through
the Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance
Specialist (CMS), Certified Pool & Spa
Service Technician (CST), and Certified
Pool & Spa Service Professional (CPS)
programs.
Other notable achievements have
been the creation of the Class Pass,
which gives members free access to ondemand
PHTA and GENESIS education,
as well as developing a partnership with
Cornell University to host a certificate
program for executives and emerging
leaders.
Olympians Rowdy Gaines, Cullen Jones, and Cammile Adams on NBC’s Today promoting water safety and sharing the mission of Step Into Swim.
ADVOCATE
PHTA is constantly monitoring federal, state, and local government decisions
that may have an impact on the pool
and hot tub industry. Some of the most
important wins have been:
- Setting the standards for energy
efficiency, particularly for portable
hot tubs - Raising awareness of water
conservation during droughts,
with a focus on fighting the
misconception that pools and hot
tubs are “water wasters” - Working with the U.S. Congress to
reauthorize the Virginia Graeme
Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
(VGBA) - Ensuring continued support of
the Summer Work Travel (SWT)
and H2-B visa programs, allowing
aquatic facilities to maintain proper
staffing levels
PHTA hosted its first Day on the Hill in
2023, an opportunity for members to
visit Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.,
and meet with members of Congress to
discuss the important role the industry
plays in the U.S. economy. This will now
be an annual lobbying event.
As part of the unification, PHTA
welcomed the Texas Pool & Spa
Coalition (TPSC) and the California Pool
& Spa Association (CPSA) under its
umbrella. These two organizations lead
the grassroots government relations
efforts in their states, with lobbyists and
volunteers focused on fighting for the
pool and hot tub industry.
A program that everyone in the
industry can get behind is Step Into
Swim, PHTA’s drowning prevention
initiative. Step Into Swim provides
grants to learn-to-swim programs
around the United States (and beyond!),
giving children in underserved areas
free or low-cost access to lifesaving
swim lessons. Since 2020, Step Into
Swim has granted nearly $3 million to
more than 400 learn-to-swim programs,
reaching 83,000 children and counting.
PHTA is so thankful to its many donors
across the industry who are truly saving
children’s lives through their generosity.
ELEVATE
PHTA is the leading industry
organization recognized by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI)
to develop and promote national
consensus standards for residential and
public swimming pools, hot tubs, and
spas. This commitment to standards
development is at the core of PHTA’s
mission. PHTA is proud to have
published 15 ANSI standards over the
last 40 years.
In 2022, PHTA conducted a
regovernance on the technical side
that comprised of committees guided
by pool, spa, and hot tub leaders that
ensure PHTA’s technical activities
and initiatives are at the forefront of
the industry. This regovernance has
unleashed an incredible group of
volunteers, who are experts in their
respective fields, to work diligently to
ensure PHTA’s ANSI standards are up
to date, follow the latest scientific data,
and keep industry professionals and
consumers safe and healthy.
PHTA continues to expand its
industry research, an area of great
value to its members. In addition to
the biannual Economic Impact Study
and annual Market Report, PHTA
launched Quarterly Pulse Surveys and
the Business Operations Survey in 2023.
These surveys, now being collected
at regular intervals, will allow PHTA
to track trends and monitor industry
performance across the build, service,
and retail sectors. These surveys
also allow participants to benchmark
themselves against the industry average
and see how they compare to others in
their region.
We are also elevating the industry
by focusing efforts on workforce
development. PHTA now has two
apprenticeship programs registered
with the U.S. Department of Labor, for
the builder and service sectors. In 2023,
PHTA also launched Work In Aquatics,
a comprehensive website and job board
created for jobseekers to learn about the
many and varied careers in the pool and
hot tub industry and a place for them to
find jobs with PHTA members. To date,
more than 7,000 people have applied to
positions in the industry through Work
In Aquatics.
THANK YOU
PHTA would not be celebrating these
achievements without the continued
support of members and partners, and
would like to take this opportunity to
thank its Board of Directors, Strategic
Partners, associations such as the
Northeast Spa & Pool Association
(NESPA) and the Florida Swimming
Pool Association (FSPA), and its friends
at Master Pools Guild (MPG) and
Carecraft.
The hard work and passion of all
these groups have been the driving force
behind PHTA’s collective success. Much
more lies ahead, as PHTA continues to
educate, advocate, and elevate on behalf
of the industry. To its 3,900 member
companies, PHTA sends its profound
gratitude.
This article first appeared in the September 2024 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
