Certified Pool Operator Practice Test, Quiz, & Flash Cards 🃏
Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants with Rudy Stankowitz
$174.99
POOL OPERATOR PREP
COMMERCIAL POOL SERVICE BASIC TRAINING
A comprehensive training program designed to provide a solid foundation upon which the student can build as they pursue their career as a pool operator or pool service professional. This basic training program offers more than the basics. It is ideal for individuals who are new to pool maintenance or preparing for a pool operator certification course, health officials, aquatic professionals, maintenance techs, and pool service professionals and also as a refresher for team members with several seasons under their belts.
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.” — Confucius
The Pool Math
Math is a tiny portion of the test. That said, it does take up a huge part of the program. In fact, as you go through the actual class, it’s going to feel like the whole darned thing was math. But, don’t stress it – just ten math questions. See our CPO Practice Test below.
This doesn’t mean I am trying to minimize the importance of math, far from it. Math is essential for everything we do. Still, no one is expected to memorize it all in a 16-hour program. The goal is that the more you refer back to the materials, the more it commits to memory. This next video is actually a playlist of a quantity of six. Don’t get alarmed – each video is less than 10 minutes long so that you can watch all six in an hour or a couple at a time.
Water Test tutorial – get an edge on your classmates:
Chemicals, Maintenance, Troubleshooting
Again, a large portion of the CPO class involves familiarity with honestly everything from A to Z. You will not leave this class an expert, not by any means. But, you will have a great foundation on which to build. Don’t get me wrong; you will learn a lot. The following is a playlist of seven videos that will connect on a little bit of a lot of things that you may find helpful.
FREE Air Leak Troubleshooting & Diatomaceous Earth tutorial:
Important Downloads
CPO Test Flash Cards
CPO practice math test and CPO quiz is beneath the Flash Cards
The only point at which a suction side leak will draw in air and drip water
The Mechanical Seal (Pump Seal)
The Best Method of Algae Prevention
Brushing Pool Walls & Floor
Amount of Water that can be held in a cubic foot
7.5 gallons
The name of the chemical we use to test pH
phenol red
Total Chlorine - Free Chlorine =
Combined Chlorine
This is what is used to lubricate the pump lid O-ring
A Silicone or Teflon based lubricant
What does pH stand for?
The power of Hydrogen
The method a Saltwater pool uses to generate chlorine
Electrolysis
The protozoa associated with a human solid stool
Giardia
The only method of lowering pH that will increase the Total Alkalinity
CO2 injection
The maximum amount of water that can pass through a DE filter
2 gpm per square foot of filter area
This law was established to help to prevent suction entrapment
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB 2008)
This chemical neutralizes chlorine
Sodium Thiosulfate
The formula used to calculate the surface area of a circle
radius x radius x 3.14 = Surface Area
The recommended turnover rate for a public pool
6 hours
The maximum recommended temperature for a spa
104 degrees
When should a vacuum DE filter be backwashed
When the vacuum gauge reads greater than 8 inches of mercury
The most common form of suction entrapment
Hair entrapment
Formula to convert ounces to pounds
Ounces ÷ 16 = pounds
The first thing you should do when someone poops in the pool
Close the pool
A swimming pool must maintain this amount of clearance
Four feet 100% of the way around the pool at all times
The part of the pump that throws the water
The impeller
Sand returning to the pool is most likely do to what?
A broken latteral
The only method of raising pH without affecting the Total Alkalinity
Aeration
What is the correct amount of Diatomaceous Earth to add to a DE Filter?
1 1/4 pounds per 10 square foot of filter area
The method used to clean a sand filter
Backwashing
This device is designed to allow ground water to enter the pool as a "Pop-up" preventative
Hydrostatic relief valve
This can be caused by moving a valve handle while the pump is running
Water Hammer
What is Cyanuric Acid used for?
To prevent UV degradation of chlorine by the sun
The number one cause of accidental death of children ages 1-4 years
Drowning
The minimum height of a pool barrier
48 inches
This recreational water illness is contracted by breathing contaminated mist
Legionella pneumophila
What is Cavitation?
The formation and collapse of vapor in a liquid due to excessive vacuum
Best lighting to use for a water test
The light of the Northern horizon
The sector of the health department that regulates public pools
Environmental Health
The type of feeder used for chlorine tablets
An Erosion feeder
The chemical used to increase Total Alkalinity
Sodium bicarbonate
The type of fire extinguisher that should be in a chemical storage area
Water
The placement of a device that prevents machinery from being operated until that device is removed
Lockout-Tagout (LOTO)
Convert 640 ounces to gallons
640 ounces ÷ 128 = 5 gallons
Convert 800 ounces to pounds
800 ounces ÷ 16 = 50 pounds
Convert 25 yards to feet
25 yards x 3 = 75 feet
Convert 50 meters to feet
50 meters x 3.28 = 164 feet
Calculate the Surface area of a rectangle that is 20 feet wide and 40 feet long
20 x 40 = 800 square feet
Calculate the average depth of a pool with a shallow end depth of 4 feet and a deep end depth of 8 feet
(4 ft + 8 ft) ÷ 2 = 6 ft average depth
Calculate the gallonage of water in a rectangle pool that is 20 feet wide and 40 feet long with a depth that is 4 feet in the shallow end and 8 feet at the deep end
20 x 40 x ((4+8) ÷ 2) x 7.5 = 36,000 gallons
Calculate the radius of a circle with a 12 foot diameter
12 ft ÷ 2 = 6 ft radius
Calculate the surface area of a circle with a 12 foot diameter
6 x 6 x 3.14 = 113.04 sq ft
Calculate the amount of water in a round pool with a 12 foot diameter and is 3 feet deep
6 x 6 x 3.14 x 3 x 7.5 = 2,543.4 gallons
Formula to convert inches to feet
Inches ÷ 12 = Feet
Calculate the amount of water lost in a 20 foot wide rectangle pool that is 40 feet long that loses 1 inch of water
20 ft x 40 ft x (1 ÷ 12) x 7.5 = 499.8 gallons lost
Formula for calculating Turnover rate
Pool Gallons ÷ Flow Rate ÷ 60 = Turnover rate in hours
The height of the latch for the pool gate
Minimum of 54 inches
Calculate the flow rate necessary for a 30,000 gallon pool to have a 6 hour turnover rate
30,000 ÷ 6 ÷ 60 = 83.33 gpm flow rate
The humidity in which the Natatorium must be maintained
Between 40% - 60%
Filter Sizing Formula
Flow rate ÷ Filter Media Rate = Square Feet of Filter Required
Protozoa associated with a human diarrheal incident
Cryptosporidium
Formula to Calculate required BTUs when sizing a heater
Pool Gallons x 8.33 x Degrees of desired Temperature change = Total BTUs required
The four types of energy loss
1. Evaporation 2. Convection 3. Radiation 4. Conduction
Neutral on the pH scale
7.0
The chlorine level necessary to treat a fecal incident involving a solid stool
2 ppm (If it's Poo, it's 2)
Chlorine level necessary to treat a fecal incident involving diarrhea
20 ppm (If it's Runny, it's 20)
Formula to calculate Total Dynamic Head
(Pressure gauge reading x 2.31) + (Vacuum gauge reading x 1.13) = Total Dynamic Head
The CPO Certification Test is
Only 50 questions, all multiple choice, and open book You Got This!
Sign up for a CPO Class: CPO Class Schedule
FREE PREP Class (click the logo below to begin):
CPO Prep Puzzles
Take the CPO Practice Test
What is the ideal range for pH?
Correct!
Wrong!
How often should you clean or backwash your filter?
Correct!
Wrong!
What should the pump lid o-ring should be lubricated with?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is the best method of algae prevention?
Correct!
Wrong!
Which chemical is used to raise the total alkalinity?
Correct!
Wrong!
Which is an important step in preparation for a major storm?
Correct!
Wrong!
Water dripping from where the motor attaches to the pump is an indication of what?
Correct!
Wrong!
If you did not winterize your pool, what is the best method of preventing equipment damage during the threat of a hard freeze?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is the correct level for the water in the pool?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is the effect of aiming the return jets towards the surface?
Correct!
Wrong!
How is a saltwater pool sanitized?
Correct!
Wrong!
What does it mean when a pool has "that chlorine smell"?
Correct!
Wrong!
What day is National Swimming Pool day?
Correct!
Wrong!
What does muriatic acid disassociate into when added to water?
Correct!
Wrong!
Which of the following is something you should NEVER do?
Correct!
Wrong!
Establishing a Borate level in a swimming pool will
photo: Flikr user Don O'Brien
Correct!
Wrong!
Bromine is
Erin Thibodeau
Correct!
Wrong!
What is the Best lubricant for the viton chlorinator lid O-ring?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is wrong with the pool in the picture?
Correct!
Wrong!
Cloudy Water Can Contribute to
Correct!
Wrong!
What should you do before adding sand to a sand filter?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is wrong with the pool in the picture?
Correct!
Wrong!
What type of Candy Bar did Bill Murray's character Carl Spackler pull from the swimming pool in the movie Caddyshack?
Correct!
Wrong!
Which of the following statements about black algae is true?
Correct!
Wrong!
What is wrong with the pool in the picture?
Keith Jig Courvelle, Legacy Pools
Correct!
Wrong!
CPO Practice Test
Certified Pool Ninja!
Certified Pool Ninja: You are an unbeatable force of backyard Water Wisdom. You have mastered the art of H₂O!
The Water Warrior!
Water Warrior: You are a true Water Warrior. pH crawls back into balance at the mere mention of your name.
The Algae Buster
Algae Buster: Green in your pool? I don't think so!
The Pool Apprentice
The Pool Apprentice: You know many things, but there is still much to learn
Step Away From The Pool!
Step Away From The Pool! You've been Busted!!! The water police are en route to your location.
Share your Results:
Download Charts and Worksheets for class:
Online CPO Certification Handbook
