Qualified Pool Operator
Our History
Qualified Pool Operator (QPO) was born in 2020 through a collaboration between principals Rusty Fausnaugh,Pool Pro LLC, and Tarrae Levine, Pool Pro Mermaids. This collaboration marries the skills and experience of Rusty's 30+ years in the aquatics industry and Tarrae's 30+ years of experience with instructional design. The focus of QPO is the contribute to the aquatic industry by raising up the next generation of aquatic professionals. Excellence by training.
Pool Pro SW began in 2021 to continue serving the chemical needs of Pool Pro LLC clients. Please find the contact information for Yvonne (Pool Pro SW) in the contact section.
Raising the next generation of aquatic professionals
We have more than 30 years of experience in commercial hot tubs, spas and pools. We work with the beginner and the experienced aquatic professional through certification, one to one training, and professional development.
Pool Operator Training
So you have your CPO certification, now what? Or you are an experienced CPO, but you have a water issue that you've never seen before, now what? Whether it's training or customized solutions, we're here to help. Pool Operator Training hours are designed to meet the needs of CPOs in one-to-one training.
Pool Operator Training hours are now open.
Professional Development
I'm required to provide monthly inservice training for my pool staff.
What is inservice pool staff training?
How do I design the training?
Where do I find instructors?
I need an accountability system for my pool staff.
What is an accountability system?
How do I design one?
Who implements this system?
I manage a hotel and I need some solutions for managing my pool staff.
Why do we have to close the pool so often?
How can we best support our CPO?
How can we best create a safe pool environment?
How can I get rid of the foam in the hot tub?
Email us for professional solutions to these issues and more.
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA)
At QPO certificate training is provided in association with PHTA.
All certificates are issued by PHTA.
The mission of PHTA is: The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance protects and advances the common interests of the industry by providing education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge and profitability.
You may visit PHTA for more information. www.phta.org
How does virtual online learning work?
virtual learning online
We offer a fusion of virtual and live online instruction that includes:
- online modules - these are completed online and self-paced
- live zoom class/exam - live teaching and exam proctoring through zoom
Your online CPO course includes:
- 8 self-paced online modules & quizzes,
- Certification of Completion for the online modules,
- CPO handbook,
- 4 hours in a live zoom class with Rusty, and
- the final exam for a 5 year international CPO certification.
TERMS DEFINED
Virtual online course is self-paced in that you can complete a module at different times inline with your schedule and learning style.
Live Zoom Class is offered through Zoom conference calling.
Onsite Class is offered in person for an aquatic facility
Exams for certification are offered onsite and virtually proctored through zoom
HOW TO GET STARTED
STEP 1 Click the REGISTER button, fill out a short form for your chosen course. Click submit.
STEP 2 Receive and review your WELCOME email from us and complete the invoice for your course.
STEP 3 Begin your course.
Your Instructor is Rusty Fausnaugh
Rusty
Rusty Fausnaugh is a swimmer.
Aquatics has been his life since taking American red cross swimming courses as a youth. Most valuable swimmer on his high school swim team and being awarded a scholarship to swim in College, he chose instead to attend a school closer to home and began operating pools and teaching swim lessons at the end of that adventure.
In the early 90’s, after working for municipalities to teach and operate their pools in Colorado and New York, he got an opportunity to work on construction and help people operate their pools as he had in the 80’s.
All around the southwest United States, he has demolished, constructed, started up and provided training on every type of facility and every type of swimming pool component.
Teaching swimming, lifeguarding and water safety is one skill, but becoming a CPO instructor for the National Swimming Pool Foundation in the late 90’s opened up a whole new dimension for his pool service, supply and construction business. He and his partner operated this business, employing dozens of people over the years.
A regular attendee of the World Aquatic Health Conference and avid seeker of training opportunities from all manufacturers of pool equipment. He has consulted, installed, and tested most of the products available to operators for safe operation of their facilities. He continues to find new ways to live in aquatics and find new and different ways to incorporate water in his life.