Why Become a Certified Service Professional?

The CSP Certified Service Professional designation was created as a means of recognizing the technical skill and knowledge of very experienced pool/spa service providers. There is no education program associated with this level of the certification program – the designation is awarded to those who meet the years of experience and continuing education requirements, and pass a challenging, objective, written examination.

Individuals holding the CSP designation are widely recognized as among the most skilled and knowledgeable in the pool/spa service industry, and are encouraged to promote their certification. APSP supports this effort by placing the CSP logo on the listings of companies employing CSP’s in the APSP Member Locator service, and has a special feature for consumers to search for companies with CSP's on staff.

You're a Pro.  This is your chance to prove it!

CSP Certified Service Professional FAQs

Click here to go to the main Service Education and Certification page with calendar.

How do I qualify to take the exam?

If you have 5 years or more of advanced level technical service repair and troubleshooting experience, as well as 24 hours or more of APSP-accredited continuing education (CE) courses*, you can apply to take the CSP Certified Service Professional® exam. You do not have to have passed through the Tech I/II or CMS/CST courses in order to be eligible to sit for this exam if you meet the experience and continuing education requirements.

To start the exam process you should download the CSP application package, review the materials provided, and then complete and submit the application. The application package contains an extensive description of the program, sample exam questions, a breakdown of the exam by unit, information about recertification, and the application and registration forms for the program.

What kind of classes qualify as acceptable Continuing Education courses?

APSP accredits all types of courses, but you should always check with those offering the course to ensure its APSP accredited before you sign up. Manufacturer and distributor training courses, APSP regional and chapter education meetings, and industry-related online education could all qualify. Classes taken at national and regional pool/spa trade shows are usually accredited. You can contact the APSP Career Institute staff if you want to confirm whether a course is accredited, or if you need assistance documenting your continuing education credit.

How do I prepare to take the CSP exam?

Your professional experience will provide the foundation, and your study of the APSP Service Tech Manual, 4^th Edition will fill in the level of detail you’ll need to be successful on the CSP exam. Although any of the content in the Service Tech Manualis “fair game” for the exam, APSP does offer a 5 hour exam prep course to assist you in focusing on key content areas that will be covered in the exam. The course is taught by a highly qualified industry expert and first year reviews of the courses delivered have been universally enthusiastic and positive. The Prep Course agenda includes an overview of each unit of the Service Tech Manual, sample exam questions at the end of each unit review, a pre-test to gauge your readiness for the exam, and ample time to ask questions that came up during your study of the material.

The CSP exam is closed book, 150 questions, all multiple choice.  You have three hours to complete the exam.  You will be provided with a "formula sheet," for the exam, which provides key formulas and constants you may need on the exam.  

The Prep Course is an optional class, but it does provide you with the opportunity to do a final review just before sitting for the exam. An online version of the Prep Course will be available for the Fall 2010/Winter 2011 education season. 

When can I take the CSP exam?

You have two options for testing for the CSP designation:

1) sit for the exam anytime throughout the year at a community college testing location near you, or

2) sit for the exam in an APSP-sponsored group testing event at one of the upcoming pool/spa shows or other APSP-sponsored event.

Currently, those using the community college testing center option do not have access to an Exam Prep Course, though that will change with the coming availability of an online version. Many community college test centers do charge an exam proctoring fee, and you would be responsible for paying that fee at the time of the exam. The fee is usually modest ($10-30), particularly as compared to travel and hotel costs associated with attending a group testing event.

The APSP Career Institute staff will generally schedule a group testing opportunity at all of the major pool/spa industry shows held during the winter months around the country. An Exam Prep Course is also scheduled prior to those group testing dates – generally the day before the exam. The calendar of group testing events and Prep Courses will be posted on the Service Education main page in the Fall 2010 for the Winter 2010-11 education season.

What are the costs associated with taking the CSP Exam?

The bundled price for members, which includes the CSP exam fee, live prep course, the APSP Service Tech Manual, 4th Edition, and 3 years of certification upon passing the exam, is $495. The price for the bundle when the prep course selected is the 5 hour online version is $645. 

How do I register for a Prep Course and Exam?

If you’re interested in sitting for the CSP exam at a pool/spa show where APSP is offering the prep course and exam* you should print out and complete the application and the exam registration forms to become eligible for the exam and select a testing date. You must submit these forms and fees to the APSP Career Institute directly – these fees are not included in your registration fee for the show itself. Once your application has been approved, you will be registered and scheduled for the exam and prep course and notified directly by email with all program details provided. Your Manual will be shipped to you upon registering, so it is in your best interest to apply and register as far in advance as possible to ensure you have ample time to prepare for the exam. Registrations are generally cut off 2 weeks prior to the program date.

If you wish to simply take the exam at a location near you, download and complete the application and registration forms and send them to the APSP Career Institute staff for processing.  Once approved, APSP staff will contact your local community college to arrange for testing.

In either case, your results will be mailed to you within 3 weeks of your exam date.  Upon passing, you will receive a wall certificate, wallet certificate, and logo patch for your jacket or uniform.  You will be required to accumulate 24 hours of continuing education credit during your three years of certification in order to re-certify at the end of that period.  

If you do not pass on your first attempt you may re-test, and a form to initiate that process will be sent with your results letter.  

* Note that an exception is that the registration for the combination Technical Services Institute and CSP Prep and Exam at the 2010 Pool-Spa-Patio Expo does require payment of the registration fee directly to Hanley-Wood through the Expo registration site.  The CSP application must still be sent to APSP to qualify for the exam.

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