CPO Certification Exam Tips: Preparing for the CPO Test
Passing your CPO certification exam on the first try should be no problem with the right mindset and preparation.
So, you’re looking to enhance your knowledge and skills as a pool, hot tub, or spa operator. A Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Certification Course is the ideal way to formalize your training and take your expertise to the next level. All CPO certification courses feature a final proctored CPO exam to get your certification, this is required to gain your CPO.
For those who get anxious about taking tests: fear not. CPOs-in-training have three hours to complete the exam. The exam is open-book and multiple choice. Students must score 37 out of 50 points (or 74%) to pass.
With the right preparation and mindset, we’re confident that you can pass the CPO certification exam on the first try, but as a secure safety net, The Training Center’s CPO Certification Course includes unlimited exam attempts at no extra cost. It’s also suggested to familiarize yourself with CPO Requirements. It’s always ideal to seek a course that provides unlimited CPO exam attempts, as this can ease the pressure for those who are anxious test takers and improve your chances of success.
Here are a few simple tips to prepare for the CPO certification exam.
Familiarize yourself with the Pool & Spa Operator Handbook
The Pool and Spa Operator Handbook is the essential manual for anyone involved in recreational swimming. It is a necessity for anyone who enrolls in a CPO course, and in some cases, even comes with enrolling.
There is no need to memorize the handbook or feel pressure to read it cover to cover. However, simply becoming familiar with the layout and some of the lessons will ensure you will be able to locate information during the open-book exam.
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a nationally recognized association that sets standards for recreational swimming, believes that if you can find information in the handbook during the exam, you'll also be able to use it to solve real-world challenges in the field. Their primary goal is to promote safe and efficient pool operations, encouraging operators to rely on the handbook as a key resource. Becoming familiar with the handbook while preparing for the CPO exam not only helps with the test but also equips you to be a more effective pool operator in practice.
To assist you on this part of the journey, The Training Center’s CPO online practice exams feature feedback that lets students know where to find the information in the handbook should you answer a question incorrectly.
Practice, practice, practice
Not all CPO certification courses follow the same layout. Nervous test-takers, or those who simply want extra time to prepare, should look for a course that doesn’t require students to take the final exam on the same day as the instructor-led training (this is the case for The Training Center’s CPO course).
A break in between class and the final exam offers plenty of time to take practice exams. This type of practice time will allow students to get comfortable with the information and the format of the test. Since the course does involve some math and table-reading, practice exams will help make those equations more routine.
Additionally, the practice exams will show users who answer questions wrong where to find the relevant information in the handbook. This is yet another reason to familiarize yourself with the Pool & Spa Operator Handbook. On top of offering unlimited attempts at the final CPO exam, The Training Center also offers a variety of practice quizzes to ensure success with the final exam. With quizzes ranging from 5 to 50 questions and increasing levels of difficulty, students can gradually absorb and retain the information at their own pace.
Levels of our quiz difficulties:
“Wading in” - Designed to ease you into the material
“Making Waves” - Created to level up each student and contains questions that a bit more challenging
“Deep Dive” - Most of the material in these quizzes are meant to encourage students to use the CPO Handbook
“Tsunami Mode” - The toughest level; CPO Handbook usage is recommended
“Take it Easy” - Encourages students to take a breather- not all questions are hard ones!
“Into the Whirlpool” - These quizzes contain a collection of information from all levels
Additionally, the practice exams will guide users to the relevant sections in the handbook when they answer questions incorrectly. This reinforces the importance of becoming familiar with the Pool & Spa Operator Handbook.
Didn’t quite catch that? The Training Center’s courses are also all recorded and allow users to go back and re-watch the material, too.
Pay attention to the wording of the questions
When it comes to taking certification exams in general, some students feel that they can be misled by “trick” questions. But the good news is that the CPO exam is not designed to be misleading. The PHTA has designed this exam to help operators become exposed to and able to master a wide array of skills that are needed to become a successful pool operator.
In the field, the ability to analyze information is essential, and CPO courses start by guiding you through breaking down questions and answer choices to identify the best solution. Developing these analytical skills, both for exam questions and the handbook, will ultimately make you a more effective pool operator in real-world situations.
Be confident!
Since there is no need to test the same day that you take your instructor-led session, you can wait to schedule your exam for a time that you are ready. With the right preparation, you can ensure that you will sit for your final exam with full confidence in your ability to become a Certified Pool Operator and gain the benefits of a CPO Certification.
The Training Center’s CPO course offers a flexible, comprehensive program involving a 6-8-hour self-paced Pool Operator Primer course and five hours of virtual, instructor-led training. Additionally, The Training Center offers unlimited final exam attempts, for anyone who doesn’t pass on their first attempt.
But if you follow our tips, we don’t think that will be a problem! Learn more about The Training Center’s CPO Certification Course or CPO Renewal if your existing certification is expiring.
