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Certified Pool Operator exam Study Guide
ANSI - answer✔American National Standards Institute
ASME - answer✔American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Certified lifeguard - answer✔A person who possesses current certification at the Senior
Lifesaving level or its equivalent. Established by the American Red Cross, YMCA or equivalent.
Certified Pool Operator - answer✔Responsible for daily operation of a public swimming pool or
public spa/hot tub. Successful completion of course in pool operation and maintenance.
Approved by Director of Public Health
Coping - answer✔The cap on the pool or spa/tub that provides finishing edge around the
perimeter of the pool or hot tub.
disinfectant - answer✔a chemical substance that kills harmful bacteria or viruses
Exercise spa/swim spa - answer✔Variant of a spa that allows for exercises using water resistance
Fences - answer✔Must be 4 feet in height above ground. Must prevent children from getting
through(chain link, picket, solid board)
Free Chlorine Residual - answer✔The portion of total chlorine remaining in water that is not
combined with ammonia or nitrogen compounds, so is able to react chemically to pathogens.
Hazard - answer✔Any situation that poses a risk of injury or harm to patrons of pool
Hydrostatic relief valve - answer✔A valve that relieves underground water pressure caused by
high water table under pool.
Lifeguard - answer✔A competent adult, 18 or older, currently certified in CPR and first aid
Lifeline - answer✔Coarse rope or line with attached buoys used to separate where a pool
suddenly increases in depth. Must be securely attached to both sides of the pool.
Make-Up Water - answer✔Water used to fill or refill pool water
Maximum Load - answer✔Maximum number of bathers permitted in pool. Total water surface
area in sq ft/27 sq ft.
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Operator or Manager - answer✔Person responsible for operation and management of a pool
Pool Area - answer✔The area immediately surrounding and adjacent to the swimming pool
including but not limited to all areas within the fence, if required, or the walls(if indoor).
Pool Management Company - answer✔Any person or entity contracting to manage or operate
two or more public swimming pools.
private swimming pool - answer✔Any pool over 24 inches in depth used for swimming or
recreational bathing. Inground or above ground. Limited to residential occupancies.
Public swimming pool - answer✔Any swimming pool other than a private residential pool that is
intended to be used collectively by numbers of persons. Apartment communities, condo, hotels,
marina, private clubs.
Public spa - answer✔Any public spa/hot tub not used for private residential use. Used commonly
by collective. Hotels, apartment communities, condo, private clubs.
Turnover Rate - answer✔The amount of time required by filtration system to filter the equivalent
of the entire volume of the pool or spa
Wading Pool - answer✔Pool designed for wading, less than 24 inches. Must be completely
separate from any pool
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code - answer✔All pools, spas must conform to VUSBC
or can be closed by the health department. A certificate of occupancy is required to operate a
pool issued by Director of public health.
When can a pool be closed? - answer✔When a condition exists that would endanger the health,
safety, or life of any person, the Director of health may close the pool until such condition is
corrected.
Permit to Operate - answer✔Required to operate. It will be unlawful for any person to operate,
maintain, or manage any public pool without obtaining a permit to operate from Director of
public health.
Posting of permit - answer✔Permit to operate must be posted in view of the public at all public
swimming pools, spas.
Inspections - answer✔Dir. of Pub. health shall have the power to enter, at reasonable times, upon
any private property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions in public pools.
Maintaining CPO on site - answer✔All pools must have a registered CPO responsible for the
site. Must notify Director immediately of any changes to CPO managing the property.
Class A Pool - answer✔For use by accredited competitive aquatic events
Certified Pool Operator exam Study Guide
ANSI - answer✔American National Standards Institute
ASME - answer✔American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Certified lifeguard - answer✔A person who possesses current certification at the Senior
Lifesaving level or its equivalent. Established by the American Red Cross, YMCA or equivalent.
Certified Pool Operator - answer✔Responsible for daily operation of a public swimming pool or
public spa/hot tub. Successful completion of course in pool operation and maintenance.
Approved by Director of Public Health
Coping - answer✔The cap on the pool or spa/tub that provides finishing edge around the
perimeter of the pool or hot tub.
disinfectant - answer✔a chemical substance that kills harmful bacteria or viruses
Exercise spa/swim spa - answer✔Variant of a spa that allows for exercises using water resistance
Fences - answer✔Must be 4 feet in height above ground. Must prevent children from getting
through(chain link, picket, solid board)
Free Chlorine Residual - answer✔The portion of total chlorine remaining in water that is not
combined with ammonia or nitrogen compounds, so is able to react chemically to pathogens.
Hazard - answer✔Any situation that poses a risk of injury or harm to patrons of pool
Hydrostatic relief valve - answer✔A valve that relieves underground water pressure caused by
high water table under pool.
Lifeguard - answer✔A competent adult, 18 or older, currently certified in CPR and first aid
Lifeline - answer✔Coarse rope or line with attached buoys used to separate where a pool
suddenly increases in depth. Must be securely attached to both sides of the pool.
Make-Up Water - answer✔Water used to fill or refill pool water
Maximum Load - answer✔Maximum number of bathers permitted in pool. Total water surface
area in sq ft/27 sq ft.
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Operator or Manager - answer✔Person responsible for operation and management of a pool
Pool Area - answer✔The area immediately surrounding and adjacent to the swimming pool
including but not limited to all areas within the fence, if required, or the walls(if indoor).
Pool Management Company - answer✔Any person or entity contracting to manage or operate
two or more public swimming pools.
private swimming pool - answer✔Any pool over 24 inches in depth used for swimming or
recreational bathing. Inground or above ground. Limited to residential occupancies.
Public swimming pool - answer✔Any swimming pool other than a private residential pool that is
intended to be used collectively by numbers of persons. Apartment communities, condo, hotels,
marina, private clubs.
Public spa - answer✔Any public spa/hot tub not used for private residential use. Used commonly
by collective. Hotels, apartment communities, condo, private clubs.
Turnover Rate - answer✔The amount of time required by filtration system to filter the equivalent
of the entire volume of the pool or spa
Wading Pool - answer✔Pool designed for wading, less than 24 inches. Must be completely
separate from any pool
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code - answer✔All pools, spas must conform to VUSBC
or can be closed by the health department. A certificate of occupancy is required to operate a
pool issued by Director of public health.
When can a pool be closed? - answer✔When a condition exists that would endanger the health,
safety, or life of any person, the Director of health may close the pool until such condition is
corrected.
Permit to Operate - answer✔Required to operate. It will be unlawful for any person to operate,
maintain, or manage any public pool without obtaining a permit to operate from Director of
public health.
Posting of permit - answer✔Permit to operate must be posted in view of the public at all public
swimming pools, spas.
Inspections - answer✔Dir. of Pub. health shall have the power to enter, at reasonable times, upon
any private property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions in public pools.
Maintaining CPO on site - answer✔All pools must have a registered CPO responsible for the
site. Must notify Director immediately of any changes to CPO managing the property.
Class A Pool - answer✔For use by accredited competitive aquatic events
