The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, happening now between November 13 through the 19. The theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is “Registered Apprenticeship: Superhighway to Good Jobs,” highlighting how apprenticeship programs are a proven training model for many industries. During this week, PHTA will be promoting its two Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for people interested in careers as pool maintenance and service professionals and for pool builders.
PHTA first launched the Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program in August 2021 and, due to membership interest, PHTA launched its second program, the Pool Installer Technician Apprenticeship Program, in August 2023.
These two programs allow PHTA members to improve the number of skilled workers in the pool construction and service industries. Both programs offer free enrollment for PHTA members.
PHTA RAPs play a key role in recruiting, training, and retaining employees. They allow employers to reach more diverse candidates and connect with more local workforce and community organizations; provide mentorship and hands-on learning; and build trust, loyalty, and rapport between employees and employers.
“The PHTA Apprenticeship Program has helped our company illustrate a clear career path for our current and potential employees that we have been trying to develop for years,” says Justin Lex, operations manager of Swimming Pool Services, Inc. in Waukesha, Wis. “The PHTA Apprenticeship Program provides an excellent training platform for my team to develop their career to the maximum potential. They see the investment we are putting in them and we see the return through a more skilled workforce. It has been a great tool for our business to be able to recruit new hires and develop current ones by showing them the milestones they need to hit to not only advance their industry knowledge, but also advance their personal financial earnings along the way.”
From an apprentice’s perspective, PHTA’s RAPs offer consistent training, enabling employees to earn while they learn. Upon graduation from the apprenticeship program, employees are highly skilled, motivated to continue learning, and have a great work/life balance.
“PHTA is committed to elevating the skills within the pool, spa, and hot tub industry through our expanded workforce development efforts, including our two Registered Apprenticeship Programs,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, president and CEO of PHTA. “Combining on-the-job training with PHTA’s series of industry-leading educational programs graduates professionals who possess a deep knowledge of both the soft and technical skills needed to succeed in this industry. We look forward to helping more PHTA members take advantage of these programs and grow their businesses.”
To learn more about the PHTA Apprenticeship Program, visit https://apprenticeship.phta.org/ or contact Seth Ewing, PHTA Senior Director of Member Programs and Services, at [email protected] or (703) 838-0083, ext. 159.
