64E-9.018. Public Pool Service Technician Certification

An individual who services a public pool by maintaining the cleanliness, water quality and chemical balance of public pools shall be certified. To be certified an individual must demonstrate knowledge of public pools. Examples of such knowledge include: pool cleaning, general pool maintenance, make-up water supply, bacteriological, chemical and physical quality of water and water purification, testing, treatment, and disinfection procedures. To ensure that the pool technicians are knowledgeable, said technician shall attend a training course of national recognition that is approved by the department of at least 16 hours in length and shall pass a test acceptable to the department. Certification is conferred upon an individual and is nontransferable.  Certification does not imply any licensure and specifically not that of contractor as regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation under Section 489.105(3)(j), (k), or (l), F.S. A certified pool technician may not affect the structural integrity of the pool or equipment, and shall not delegate work to others, including employees, that are not themselves certified under this section, or otherwise exempt from this provision per Chapter 514, F.S.

(1) Training shall include the following study topics for the hours indicated:

(a) Swimming pool calculations 1 hour;

(b) Filter type and filtration circulation 4 hours;

(c) Water chemistry – balancing & testing 5 hours;

(d) Spas and warm water pools 1 hour;

(e) Pool and spa maintenance 2 hours;

(f) Operational and safety requirements 2 hours; and

(g) State health code Chapter 64E-9, F.A.C., 1 hour.

(2) Course materials must be provided that cover the required topics in detail. The course approval shall be contingent upon their meeting the items listed in subsection (1) above and the subjects listed in Section 514.075, F.S. The test approval shall be contingent upon all of the questions being related to the subject areas listed in subsection (1) above and the subjects listed in Section 514.075, F.S., with at least 10% of the questions from the subject areas in paragraphs (1)(a) through (f) above, and the remaining 40% covering any of the seven pool subject areas listed in this rule or Section 514.075, F.S. The minimum passing score for the test shall be no less than 70% correct for all questions. There shall be a minimum of 50 questions.

(3) Any individual or organization requesting the department to review their courses for compliance with the requirements of this rule, must submit copies of their training materials to the department prior to providing that training within the state. A copy of the test to be given, answers to the test questions, and a statement indicating the length of time a classroom topic will be conducted shall be included. The department shall review the materials and inform the applicant of its findings within 60 days from receipt of all training materials.

(4) The department shall deem certified any individual who has been proven certified by a course of national recognition.

(5) This requirement does not apply to a person or the direct employee of a person permitted as a public pool operator under Section 514.031, F.S. Further, persons licensed under Section 489.105(3)(j), (k), or (l), F.S., shall be deemed certified.

(6) Proof of certification shall be posted conspicuously in the equipment room of each pool serviced or must otherwise be available for inspection by the department.

(7) Any reference to department approval shall state no more than: “This course is approved by the Florida Department of Health for student certification as a Public Pool Service Technician under Chapter 514, F.S., and Chapter 64E-9, F.A.C.”

Rulemaking Authority 381.006, 514.021, 514.075 FS. Law Implemented 514.025, 514.075 FS. History–New 9-25-97, Amended 5-27-04, 5-24-09.