What is the APSP Career Institute?
Technological advances and national and local legislation are transforming the nature of work in the pool
and spa industry. Tomorrow's jobs will require more knowledge, better skills, and more flexible workers than ever before. To grow, our industry needs to recruit, retain and motivate top trades people. The APSP Career Institute serves as a focal point that the industry can rally around to share ideas, recognize best practices, and promote excellence.
To prepare today's students for tomorrow, APSP is working across the industry to help new workers learn the fundamental principles of our industry. At the same time, we’re taking actions to stretch experienced professionals to new and better heights. The Career Institute is a dynamic part of the APSP, its mission is to focus on performance improvement and demonstrate opportunities that exist for professionals in the pool, spa and hot tub industry.
APSP needs to take a leadership role in helping to improve industry training by recognizing and integrating quality education programs throughout the industry. The Career Institute accreditation recognizes those partners who have committed to delivering a higher quality education experience.
What is the Agenda for the Career Institute?
APSP has great certification programs. The Career Institute will expand those programs so that more professionals have the opportunity to demonstrate and be recognized for their technical expertise.
APSP has great technical standards and education materials. The Career Institute will strive teach professionals in the field how to protect their customers, motivate their employees and grow their business.
APSP needs to take a leadership role in helping to improve industry training by recognizing and integrating quality education programs throughout the industry.
Who is involved in the Career Institute?
The APSP Board of Directors has named a Board of Regents to administer the Career Institute. These individuals all have different views of the industry; and others come from the higher education and corporate training programs. All have been committed to training and learning. These volunteers work along with staff, segment council education committees, and other workforce development entities. These dedicated individuals have spent 10 months planning and organizing the launch of the career institute and will lead it through the next dynamic stage.
What changes will take place under the Career Institute?
In the near term, very few changes will take place. The winter education season is almost upon us, and most of the current efforts will be focused on gathering information from members, and listening to what they feel needs to be done to improve industry education. But it won’t be all listening, with the benefit of member research, The Career Institute has secured an online learning platform to make training more accessible, and soon we’ll offer programs that integrate the ANSI/APSP Safety and Design Standards and other great information. Plans are in place to position each of our programs and initiatives to meet the best standards set for certifying and accrediting industry trade associations.
In the longer term, you can count on efforts to increase the number of certified professionals, a strong commitment to engage the industry on performance issues, as well as a resource bank that can help you lead your people and grow your business.
How will I know about what’s happening with the Career Institute?
The Career Institute will post new information on this website and update it frequently. In January, we’ll also begin to send out a monthly newsletter called APSPeople&Performance. To create an industry that has world-class training and education, we’ll need to work together, so we’ll be asking for your feedback through polls and online focus groups. You can rest assured that any new directions in education will be carefully planned and based on thoughtful research and on recognized best practices for certifying and accrediting organizations.