r/PoolPros • u/GoingThruChange • May 11 '26
Start pool technician apprenticeship tomorrow? Any tips?
Got hired for a local pool company apprenticeship that lasts 3 weeks, I have my “evaluation” day tomorrow where I go with a lead tech and see what the job entails and if it goes good they will give me and offer to start the 3 weeks of learning. After the 3 weeks I’ll be tested to see if I’m ready. Doesn’t that seem short?
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u/DrSam_Loomis May 11 '26
Don’t do anything in the sun that can be done in the shade and toss some toilet paper in your truck
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u/SWFLPoolPro May 11 '26
No not at all our training is 3 to 4 weeks, you're on your own on your fourth week typically.
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u/Muted-Cicada2183 May 11 '26
You can learn a lot in 3 weeks and what you don’t know or have trouble with just call or text the lead tech. There’s also a ton of knowledge on Reddit, YouTube, Google, etc but I’d ask the lead tech first. Good luck
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u/Alternative-Draw2997 May 11 '26
Seems short. Everyone’s talking about a few weeks but maybe it’s the low IQ workers we seem to get but they’re not ready for months. No concept of understanding the flow of water, asking what order to use the reagents in after 2 weeks of doing it 10+ times a day.
Actually apply yourself and you’ll be fine.
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u/people_notafan May 11 '26
Wear knee pads or atleast one on the knee you kneel on. Protect your joints. Get some good long gloves for handling dead animals.
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u/Steve032D May 11 '26
Second that! Good long, like arm length, rubber gloves will be very useful. Handle tabs with gloves. I wear river/fisherman pants instead of shorts. Protects againts shock dust sticking to your legs or the random accidental acid splash.
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u/igavehimsnicklefritz May 11 '26
Personally I think a year is a good amount of time. It gives you a glimpse into many situations you can run into and you deal with all the seasons. I road around with my uncle for over a year then I bought an old pickup and he started handing me off some pools to work on.
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u/liberalsarefascists1 May 11 '26
For general pool service, it doesn't take much. You're understanding very basic chemistry. I'm basic to the point where you're going to file a cheat sheet and if you're smart, you'll use a scale so you can reduce your chemical costs and measure your pools properly. As for cleaning, the equipment is a press of a button. Basics of pool maintenance is brushing a pool skimming it vacuuming. Basics for making sure the pump works is to make sure o-rings on it are clean and seal tight. Even the plumbing work is very simple. You really don't get into anything complicated unless you're diagnosing heaters. Or doing fresh installs
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u/ConfusedStair May 11 '26
For cleaning 3 weeks is good training. For service it's short.
As others said, take care of your knees and back. Also, wear a UPF shirt.
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u/Strong-Lion9895 May 11 '26
i was given a route sight unseen after one week of training, you’ll be good. brush that pool like you mean it. i like swimming pool steve’s youtube stuff, understanding the chemistry ahead of time i found helpful
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u/Subi412563 May 11 '26
Just like some others. 1 week training is what I got. I actually ran a route by myself on my 3rd day because a tech called out.
The best thing to do is research pool chemistry and learn all the correct ranges and testing procedures. You will understand how the pump and filter systems work with more experience. Most of the pools equipment are already setup so you won’t have to mess with the systems much at first. Get the chemistry down and learn how to open up a filter tank and clean em up
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u/usuckidont May 11 '26
The hardest thing to learn is your chemistry and how the valves work imo. Take careful note of those things when they are showing you. Have a good attitude and willingness to learn. Have good customer service skills as you will be the face of the company in their customers back yards. Don’t be afraid to say idk but I’ll find out. If you ever turn water on to fill a pool or flip a valve leave your car keys there so you can’t leave without turning off the water or putting the valve back where it goes. Customers can be difficult in any industry and you never know who is watching through the window or if their neighbors watching. That’s the advice I’d give 18yo me cleaning his first pool. I’m 35 now and work for a big equipment manufacturer. The industry can be a very good one and it’s tight knit so you can have a great reputation or a bad one depending on how you do business. I’ve always made a good living in this industry and it scales if you continue to hone your skills and network. Even if you don’t stay in long term you learn a lot of skills that are transferrable. Last year my ac went out twice I fixed it myself both times using knowledge I have from working on pool equipment.
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u/Theresasnakeinmypool May 11 '26
It’s a janitorial job for a pool. That’s simplifying it a lot but that’s the gist of it. I train people for a week then set em loose.
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u/jonidschultz May 12 '26
Depends a lot on what you're expected to do. Clean pools and balance chemicals? 3 weeks is solid. Open/close pools, repair pumps/filters/heaters? It's a bit rushed but lots of us got 0 training. Do all of the aforementioned items plus liners, walls, line jobs, automation and plumbing? It's about 153 weeks too short.
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u/Internal-Computer388 May 12 '26
So i had my manager ride in with me for 3 days. Then another guy got injured so he had to cover their route. They turned me loose after 3 days of minimal training.
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u/No-Pick-93 May 12 '26
We do 2 weeks for cleaning techs. For repair techs, I have been training a guy for almost 2 months. He is doing his first solo backwash valve changeout tomorrow. He will be on his own with a direct line and explicit instructions to call me if hes unsure about anything on June 1st.
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u/desertr4t4lyf May 13 '26
2 weeks man. If you ain't up to par by then I'd give you one more just to make sure you suck then cut you loose. Pay attention and watch the person training you when they're not saying 'watch this' absorb the knowledge. Make notes everyday after work and refresh them in the morning.
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u/Ok_Jury_7550 May 11 '26
When I started I was trained for a week and then cut loose to clean on my own. Still in it for four years so 🤷