NSPF Offers Two New Entry-Level Online Courses

Source: National Swimming Pool Foundation

Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 6, 2012 - Two new online courses, Pool & Spa Basics and Water Chemistry Basics, from non-profit National Swimming Pool Foundation® are designed to quickly get retail, builder, distributor and manufacturer employees up to speed on the basics of pool and spa operation and water chemistry. The courses will help people gain the basic knowledge required to effectively perform their job and serve their customers. Industry members who are seeking a higher level of learning will consider taking the organization's Pool Operator Primer^TM online course, or the prestigious Certified Pool/Spa Operator® (CPO®) Certification program. "With the introduction of the Basics courses, the Foundation now provides pool and spa training options that meet the needs of everyone," summarizes Alex Antoniou, Ph.D., Director of Education at National Swimming Pool Foundation, the leading educator of those who care for public and residential pools and spas. Details on training options may be accessed at www.nspf.org.

"We developed the learning to meet the needs of these individuals and those new to the industry, who understand that customers expect to find well-informed people on staff, yet - many companies have limited resources to provide employees the knowledge and tools to get there," explains. Dr. Antoniou. "Whether they are answering phones, working the counter with customers, or in the field, the Pool & Spa Basics and Water Chemistry Basics courses will give them the knowledge and confidence they need."

Pool & Spa Basics teaches the fundamental knowledge, techniques, and skills of pool and spa operation, filtration, and circulation. Participants will learn about different types of pools and spas, materials and construction. Teaching includes topics such as reducing risk around and in the water, safe chemical handling and storage, importance of recordkeeping, identifying causes of water loss, types of energy loss, and designing for air circulation. Water Chemistry Basics teaches the fundamentals of water chemistry, water testing and chemical dosing. Students will learn about water balance, proper disinfectants, calculations for breakpoint chlorination, how to handle fecal related contamination and other recreational water illnesses.

Since the courses are online, they are self-paced, and students can complete them at their convenience, in more than one sitting. As with all NSPF online courses, the training is dynamic, making learning easier. Each course contains narration, video, images, quizzes and other interactive learning tools to engage the participant.

The cost is just $40.00 USD per student for each course, and includes access to the online training for six months once purchased. People can register for the Pool & Spa Basics and Water Chemistry Basics online training courses at www.nspf.org and click on aquatic training courses, or by emailing [email protected] or by calling 719-540-9119. The NSPF Pool & Spa Operator Handbook may be ordered at a discounted price of $50.00 USD with the purchase of either course. Or, a package of all three can be purchased for $130. The Handbook is considered to be the most important recreational manual written in the past 18 years and can be used as a study guide and resource manual for future reference.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation provides a growing portfolio of online educational courses and reference materials and over 100 World Aquatic HealthTM Conference seminars that allow industry members to stay on top of their professional game. Industry professionals receive innovative web-based training that gives anytime, anywhere, on-demand access to quality, cost-effective training materials. NSPF has launched over 40 online courses with many also available in Spanish, and will continue to expand the offerings.

About National Swimming Pool Foundation® The National Swimming Pool Foundation® is a non-profit organization established in 1965, dedicated to improving public health worldwide and is the leading educator of aquatic facility operators and pool and spa professionals, and the chief philanthropic research sponsor in the aquatics field. The foundation has donated $ 4 million since 2003 to fund grants to prevent illness, injury, and drowning, and to demonstrate the health benefits of aquatic activity. NSPF works towards its mission to encourage healthier living by increasing aquatic activity through education and research with its growing collection of multi-lingual educational products, certification and training, and sponsors the annual World Aquatic HealthTM Conference. Visit www.nspf.org.