Advanced Service Technician Preview Rose Lyda Rose Lyda, Product Development Manager at the National Swimming Pool Foundation, has served to develop and launch the latest NSPF product, Advanced Service Technician a comprehensive training and certification program for pool and spa service professionals. Rose holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Public Administration, and has enjoyed collaborating with aquatic industry representatives to create content for this program. Rose has been active in the water since childhood, and considers swimming to have both recreational and therapeutic health benefits. Rose feels confident that the AST certification program will train service professionals to maintain pools to the highest industry standard, helping ensure that more people enjoy with her the health benefits of aquatics in a safe and healthy environment. Abstract Pools, spas and associated equipment suffer from under-trained service professionals. Poor maintenance of pools and pool equipment costs customers time and money higher energy costs, premature replacement of equipment, additional labor to make repairs that could have been prevented through proper service. Advanced Service Technician training and certification was created to elevate the ability of service professionals to provide more efficient and effective service. This training and certification program also serves to reduce liability to service professionals and customers by educating service professionals on how to assess and reduce exposure to hazard in the pool service environment. AST training and certification gives service professionals a competitive advantage and raises the industry standard of service. In this session you will learn about the objectives and content of the Advanced Service Technician training and certification program, available online through the National Swimming Pool Foundation. You will learn about the benefits of certification: to gain a competitive advantage and reduce liability, to comply with service licensure requirements through pre-licensure certification, and to elevate the pool and spa service industry by ensuring that service technicians are trained to meet service standards. In this session you will hear from luxury pool builders on how this training and certification provide direct benefit to preserving pools, spas, and associated equipment through high quality service. You will also learn from service professionals on how this training and certification provide direct benefit to their service companies by increasing the quality and efficiency of service leading to profitability.
Advanced Service Technician Certification Rose Lyda What is Advanced Service Technician Certification? Advanced Service Technician training and certification is a 45-60 hour prelicensure certification course designed to provide pool and spa service professionals with knowledge and skills to service and residential pools and spas, including equipment installation, maintenance, and repair Why AST Service Certification? AST was created to fill an education gap Pool and spa service professionals seek certification in order to verify their qualifications to customers Customers seek certified technicians in order to save time and money by preventing costly repairs and reducing utility expenses, and to keep their pools and spas safer and more beautiful
Advanced Service Technician Courses Advanced Service Technician (AST) Courses: 1. AST Introduction (40 min/printable PDF) 2. AST Fundamentals (13 hr/pool & Spa Operator Handbook) 3. AST Management (9.5 hr/printable PDF) 4. AST Managing Risk (2.25 hr/printable PDF) 5. AST Workplace Safety (12 hr/printable PDF) 6. AST Routine Maintenance (3 hr/printable PDF) 7. AST Installation & Repair (7.5 hr/printable PDF) = 48 hr 8 15 hour AST Classroom Session (depending on locale), inc. 3 hr Exam Certification Content of AST Courses AST Introduction provides an overview of the AST training and certification program (30 min. online, 10 min. independent study). AST Fundamentals provides instruction on facility operation and proper treatment of pool/spa water. Fundamentals may also be applied toward obtaining a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO ) Certification (10 hr. online, 3 hr. independent study). 1. AST Introduction (40 min/printable PDF) 2. AST Fundamentals (13 hr/pool & Spa Operator Handbook) 3. AST Management (9.5 hr/printable PDF) 4. AST Managing Risk (2.25 hr/printable PDF) 5. AST Workplace Safety (12 hr/printable PDF) 6. AST Routine Maintenance (3 hr/printable PDF) 7. AST Installation & Repair (7.5 hr/printable PDF) Content of AST Courses, cont. AST Management provides instruction on management responsibilities associated with operating a service company, focusing on customer service and building client relationships (9 hr. online, 30 min. independent study). AST Managing Risk provides instruction on identifying the hazards present in service professionals work environment, and minimizing risk by reducing exposure to hazard (2 hr. online, 15 min. independent study). 1. AST Introduction (40 min/printable PDF) 2. AST Fundamentals (13 hr/pool & Spa Operator Handbook) 3. AST Management (9.5 hr/printable PDF) 4. AST Managing Risk (2.25 hr/printable PDF) 5. AST Workplace Safety (12 hr/printable PDF) 6. AST Routine Maintenance (3 hr/printable PDF) 7. AST Installation & Repair (7.5 hr/printable PDF)
Content of AST Courses, cont. AST Workplace Safety provides instruction on safely performing the duties of pool and spa service (12 hr. online, 5 min. independent study). AST Routine Maintenance provides instruction on routine maintenance of circulation systems, filters, chemical application systems, automatic chemical controllers, heaters, pool cleaning systems (2 hr. online, 25 min. independent study). 1. AST Introduction (40 min/printable PDF) 2. AST Fundamentals (13 hr/pool & Spa Operator Handbook) 3. AST Management (9.5 hr/printable PDF) 4. AST Managing Risk (2.25 hr/printable PDF) 5. AST Workplace Safety (12 hr/printable PDF) 6. AST Routine Maintenance (3 hr/printable PDF) 7. AST Installation & Repair (7.5 hr/printable PDF) Content of AST Courses, cont. AST Installation & Repair provides instruction on electrical safety; and installation, service, and repair of circulation pumps, filters, chemical application systems, automatic controllers, heaters, pool cleaning systems, underwater lighting, and leak detection (7 hr. online, 1 hr. independent study). 1. AST Introduction (40 min/printable PDF) 2. AST Fundamentals (13 hr/pool & Spa Operator Handbook) 3. AST Management (9.5 hr/printable PDF) 4. AST Managing Risk (2.25 hr/printable PDF) 5. AST Workplace Safety (12 hr/printable PDF) 6. AST Routine Maintenance (3 hr/printable PDF) 7. AST Installation & Repair (7.5 hr/printable PDF) Content of AST Courses, cont. AST Classroom Session provides in-person instruction on additional material, such as structure types, finishes, and local codes. AST Classroom Session concludes with a certification exam (8-15 hr., depending on locale). AST Certification Exam will be comprehensive of all online course content, as well as AST Classroom Session content.
of AST Training Program Online Training busy service technicians can improve their service delivery skills and continue generating revenue while becoming certified Study at Your Own Pace online materials allow students to flex their study schedule to accommodate the busy seasons of pool service Interactive Design activities, exams, and classroom instruction are all designed to provide feedback, enhancing the learning experience Learning Styles Approach blended instruction methods engage all types of learners, better ensuring the application of learning when technicians are in the field Kinesthetic: interactive activities so learners can receive immediate feedback and actively engage in the learning experience, leading to retention Sample drag and drop activity from Routine Maintenance:
Kinesthetic, cont. Sample feedback from activity: Aural and Visual: videos and illustrations visually demonstrate, creating correlation for learners between the text and the procedure Sample video/text frame from Routine Maintenance: Aural and Visual, continued Sample on-screen images/text from Routine Maintenance:
Self-Paced and Self-Guided Learning: students learn at their own pace and can structure learning to their area of need Students can access online material for review for a year: Self-Paced and Self-Guided Learning, continued Students can practice activities repeatedly: Ease of Access: resource guides and references are available for viewing/printing
Ease of Access, continued Sample Resource Guide: Ease of Access, continued Sample reference checklist: Interactive Exam: based on course objectives, gives feedback, and redirects students back to sections on course objectives where they lack competency
Interactive Classroom Session: with Certified Instructor and other students Auto Updates: certification holders will be updated on current trends and information affecting the their pool and spa service delivery AST Expert Reviewers/Contributors Pilot Instructor: Brian Diglio Brian Diglio has been servicing pools in Connecticut for over 25 years and is the President of Blue Wave Pool Service and Supplies located in Hamden, CT. Blue Wave Pool has received numerous service company awards of excellence by the Northeast Spa and Pool Association under his direction. Brian has twice served as the President of the Connecticut chapter of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP ) and for several years served as Education Chairman. He has instructed for the APSP Tech One and Tech Two classes. He also has helped the state as a subject matter expert for their license testing and has spoken at health department classes. He is a National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO ), Inspector, and Instructor.
Benefits of Certification From AST Pilot Instructors Brian Diglio Trevor Sherwood Darrell Doust Steve Little Paolo Benedetti Bob Baron Questions? Rose Lyda Product Development Manager, NSPF rose.lyda@nspf.org 719-540-9119