FREE CPO Certified Pool Operator Exam Guide 2026: PHTA Course, Water Chemistry Math, 74% Pass (Practice Questions)
Video
What is the primary purpose of chlorine in a swimming pool?
Pool Water Chemistry
Question · Easy
Your heart has these. So do pipes.
Short
Free 2026 CPO Certified Pool Operator exam guide: PHTA course (formerly NSPF), 50-question test, 74% pass score (37 of 50), MAHC 5th Edition (2024), LSI water balance math, 2-week study plan, and 5-year renewal rules.
Blog
Ideal pH range for a swimming pool
Water Chemistry
Flashcard
What is the ideal pH range for a swimming pool?
A stabilizer used with chlorine; public aquatic venues must keep it at or below 90 ppm.
Water chemistry
Guess the Term
Introduction, Roles & Regulations
1.1 CPO certification facts, regulations & the operator's role
Study guide
Cheat sheet
What is total alkalinity?
Question · Medium
Read the clue and guess the term in 6 tries.
Game
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) vs hypochlorite ion (OCl-)
What is the primary cause of combined chlorine (chloramines) in a pool?
A concentration unit; free chlorine in a public aquatic venue must be at least 1.0 of these.
What is the process of shocking a pool?
Total alkalinity ideal range and role
What is the role of cyanuric acid (CYA) in a swimming pool?
The portion of sanitizer that is not combined with nitrogen or bound to stabilizer and does the disinfecting.
Disinfection
2.1 Water balance & the Langelier Saturation Index
What is the primary purpose of a pool filter?
Pool Equipment
Swap tiles to line up three of the same term.
Term Match
Calcium hardness ideal range
Which of the following is NOT a common type of pool filter?
The main disinfecting form created when chlorine gas dissolves in water.
What is backwashing?
pH bounce
What is the purpose of a pool pump?
A flow-rate unit; granular filters are limited to 15 of these per square foot of bed.
Filtration
2.2 Sanitation & disinfection (chlorine, bromine, breakpoint)
What is the most common cause of algae in a swimming pool?
Pool Problems
Flip two cards at a time to find matching terms.
Term Pairs
Langelier Saturation Index (LSI)
Water Balance
What is the best way to treat a green pool?
___ drain outlet: when two are installed, each branch pipe must carry all of the design recirculation flow.
Circulation
What is the primary danger of a suction entrapment hazard in a pool?
Pool Safety
Question · Hard
LSI of -0.6 meaning
What is the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act?
A granular filter medium inspected at least once a year for proper depth and cleanliness.
2.3 Chemical testing & alternative sanitizers
At what water depth should 'NO DIVING' be marked and diving prohibited to prevent spinal-injury accidents?
Find five hidden terms in a grid of letters.
Term Search
Factors used in the LSI calculation
What is the primary purpose of a safety vacuum release system (SVRS)?
A pressure unit; supply and suction piping must withstand at least 25 of these in a static test.
What is the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI)?
Loading more…
