New technologies, evolving trends, and rising demand have placed a growing emphasis on the need for professional development and continuing education within the pool and hot tub industry and its vast crosssection of sectors and specialists.
Overall, businesses that prioritize ongoing employee development stand to be better positioned to adapt to shifting market conditions, foster innovation, and stay ahead of the competition. For Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) members, education always ranks No. 1 in membership surveys as their reason for being a member.
Further, within the pool and hot tub industry, where multiple sectors report challenges with recruitment, encouraging ongoing training and professional development opportunities can go a long way in improving retention rates.
What’s more, increased learning can lead to increased revenue; therefore, it’s important for all within the space — from builders and designers to service providers and retailers — to make continuing education a priority. To make it easy and accessible to all, PHTA has launched the Center of Excellence.
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE EVERY DAY
PHTA is laser-focused on the importance of education to continue to raise standards and drive professionalism within the industry. In support, we are expanding our educational offerings with the introduction of the Center of Excellence, an online education hub built by the industry for the industry.
Providing professionals with access to on-demand learning, the Center of Excellence has been designed to encourage individuals to expand their knowledge and skills while raising the bar on industry standards across the board. The Center of Excellence was built with input from numerous members and a dedicated task force.
PHTA’s Center of Excellence serves as the industry’s most trusted and comprehensive source for on-demand education and professional growth, with six unique pathways: Building and Engineering, Service and Maintenance, Retail and Distribution, Facility Operators and Managers, and soon to come, Manufacturing and Business Education.
Designed by top industry experts and with more than 100 one-to-twohour courses available, the Center of Excellence provides world-class education, technical instruction, and training to support every stage of a pool, spa, and hot tub professional’s career.
With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and real-world application, the Center of Excellence is paving the way for the next generation of skilled professionals — setting new standards for #EveryDayExcellence across the industry.
CONTINUING ED HELPS PROS ADAPT TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES WHILE MEETING COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY STANDARDS
In the pool and hot tub industry, compliance with regulations and safety standards is not only critical, but mandatory.
At the same time, technology is moving the industry forward at a rapid pace, revolutionizing the way pool builders and operators manage these spaces, improving the user experience, creating efficiencies, and promoting sustainability and safety. Some would even go as far as to say the industry is experiencing a technological renaissance with the incorporation of advancements such as smart pool monitoring, energy-efficient solutions, sustainable materials, and health and safety innovations.
Keeping up with the latest regulatory changes and technological developments is essential, though challenging.
Through the Center of Excellence and its sector-driven curriculum, professionals will receive up-to-date, research-backed training on the latest safety codes and standards, along with the application of new technologies and innovations.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADDRESSES EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, RECRUITMENT, AND RETENTION
According to PHTA’s 2024 Business Operations Survey Report, recruiting and retaining skilled employees was among the top challenges reported by builders, service providers, and retailers. Continuing education provides employers with a tool to help solve those challenges at a time when workforce shortages are at odds with rising project demands.
Human resource experts agree, today’s employees — whether prospective or current — are prioritizing continuous learning as a key to both personal career growth and long-term job satisfaction.
They recognize how, as industries evolve and new technologies emerge, the skills required to remain competitive also change. The Center of Excellence provides businesses within the pool, spa, and hot tub industry with a professional development solution.
Encouraging employees to expand their skill sets via continuing education available via the Center of Excellence can be a significant selling point for potential employees, signaling that your company is committed to helping them build their careers. It also helps ensure that your workforce remains relevant and capable of meeting new demands.
And while employees expand their skills and know-how, employers will enjoy enhanced productivity, greater efficiency, reduced turnover, and higher job satisfaction, while instilling greater confidence and empowerment among their employees which can inspire innovation and leadership, while building trust with clients through higher service quality.
PHTA MAKES IT EASY TO LEARN, GROW, AND ADVANCE
PHTA’s Center of Excellence is the learning hub that provides pool, spa, and hot tub professionals with on-demand access to education and expert insight needed to grow, perform, and lead with confidence.
For builders, service industry providers, and other businesses, the Center for Excellence provides an ideal solution for onboarding new hires, elevating staff capabilities, and establishing consistent adherence to the highest industry standards and protocols.
With courses taught by industry professionals and a flexible, self-paced learning structure, users can easily customize their learning pathway by sector while gaining technical and business knowledge within an ecosystem tailored to the pool and hot tub industry.
Built for the real world, where learning needs to happen every day, not just once a year, the Center of Excellence is a win-win-win for businesses, professionals, and the overall industry. By providing readyaccess to train teams, grow careers, and improve business operations with expert-led courses that range from essential hands-on skills to industry standards and practices, we are all contributing to building an industry that prioritizes quality and professionalism.
This article first appeared in the September 2025 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.
