Welcome to InterNACHI's free, online How to Inspect Pools and Spas Course.
Goal:
The goal of this course is to teach home inspectors how to inspect residential pools and spas.
Objectives:
The objectives of the course are that upon successful completion of this course, the student shall be able to:
- provide accurate and useful information pertaining to pools and spas for their client;
- describe how pools and spas work;

- inspect circulation, heating and filtering systems and components;
- inspect electrical components;
- explain the water chemistry;
- identify safety issues;
- list common maintenance recommendations; and
- follow an inspection procedural checklist.
The primary focus of the training is on the water and the parts of the pools and spas that move or change it.
An inspection procedural checklist and maintenance schedule is provided within the course.
Course includes:
- 27,756 words;
- student book;
- inspection and writing assignment;
- research and writing assignment;
- 61 quiz questions in 12 quizzes;
- 75-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool);
- instant grading; and
- downloadable, printable Certificate of Completion.
How to Inspect Pools and Spas Course Course # 3612 nachi.org/pool-spa-course |
Activity | Assignments | Estimated hours for the average student |
Academic Engagement | Reading online course instructional material at 140 words per minute | 3.3 |
Taking quizzes | 1.9 |
Taking the exam | 2.3 |
Conducting a directed and independent inspection study performed according to the Standards of Practice, including the development of an inspection report | 4.0 |
Submitting an inspection and writing assignment | 0.5 |
Submitting a research and writing assignment | 0.5 |
Total | 12.5 |
|
|
Preparation | Studying and reviewing instructional material in preparation for taking quizzes and exam | 5.0 |
Reading the downloaded student course book including taking the quizzes with the book | 3.0 |
Reading, research, and studying related to completing the research and writing assignment | 4.0 |
Studying and preparing for inspection processes according to a Standards of Practice, including capturing and storing digital images with a camera or device, making observations, evaluating conditions, deducing, formulating opinions, communicating observations in written form, attaining competency in performing inspections and using an inspection checklist or software and other inspection tools in producing a report. | 10.0 |
Total | 23.0 |
| Sub Total | 35.5 |
Overall Total |
| 36.0 hours / 8 credits |
And, in keeping with InterNACHI's commitment to Continuing Education, this pool and spa inspection course is open and free to all members, and can be taken again and again, without limit.
Reminder to members:
InterNACHI's Code of Ethics 1.10 requires that you comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where you conduct business. InterNACHI's courses and Standards generally exceed the Standards of Practice that you are required to abide by locally.
This course has been approved by:
The course covers the following categories:
- Safety First
- The Basics
- How Big is It?
- Square or Rectangular
- Circular
- Irregular
- Parts Per Million
- Types of Pools and Spas
- Concrete
- Vinyl-Lined
- Fiberglass
- Above-Ground
- Wood
- Construction Process
- Plumbing
- Follow the Path of the Water
- More Drains
- Skimmers
- Gutters
- Pipes
- Support
- Rubber Fittings
- Size
- Return Inlets
- Water Levels
- Valves
- 3-Port Valves
- Shutoff Valves
- Check Valves
- Unions
- Solar Heating Systems
- Pumps and Motors
- Nameplate
- Turnover Rate
- Inspection Tips
- Electrical
- Dry-Niche Luminaire
- Forming Shells
- No-Niche Luminaires
- Underwater Luminaires
- Wet-Niche Luminaires
- Luminaire Location
- Flexible Cords
- Receptacles
- GFCI Protection Required
- Spa or Hot Tub GFCI
- Receptacles for Indoor Spas and Hot Tubs
- Switches
- Panel Fans and Luminaires Overhead
- Overhead Conductor Clearances
- Underground Wiring
- Grounding and Bonding
- Panelboards
- Permanently Installed Radiant Heaters
- Filtration
- Sand and Gravel Filters
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters
- Cartridge
- Pressure Gauge
- Air Relief
- T-Fitting
- Backwash Valve
- Backwash Water
- Backwash Sight Glass
- Pool Heaters
- Ignition Types
- Standing Pilot
- Mid-Efficiency
- High-Efficiency
- Intermittent Pilot
- Thermocouple
- Thermopile
- Mercury Flame Sensor
- Gas Pressure Regulator
- Disconnects
- Fireman’s Switch
- Thermostats
- Gas Valves
- Vent Connections
- Flue Pipe
- Flue Details
- Draft Hood
- Size of the Pool Heater
- Other Components and Devices
- Timers
- Time Clocks
- Twist Timers
- Electronic Timers
- Remote Controls
- Air Blowers
- Diving Boards
- Slides
- Ladders
- Automatic Pool Cleaners
- Lighting
- Pool Covers
- Safety Barriers
- Indoor Swimming Pool
- Barrier Locations
- Exemptions
- Water Chemistry
- pH
- pH Adjustment
- Controlling pH
- Increasing pH
- Lowering pH
- Total Alkalinity
- Calcium Hardness
- Scum Line
- Temperature
- Total Dissolved Solids
- Testing
- Disinfection
- Chlorine
- Non-Chlorine Shock Treatments
- Algae
- Repairs Needed
- Commercial Pools
- Inspection Tips
- Pool/Spa Inspection Checklist
- Maintenance Schedule
Upon completion of this course and passing of the 75-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool), the student can download and print their own Certificate of Completion, which is auto-generated in their own name.
The student's (InterNACHI member's) information is recorded on InterNACHI's servers for membership compliance verification, and automatically logs completion into InterNACHI's online Continuing Education log.
Non-members may view only the first page of the course.
InterNACHI... #1 in inspection education.
InterNACHI® Members:
Take the free, online How to Inspect Pools and Spas course now (free to InterNACHI members).
Not a member yet?
Join today for access to this and thousands
of other InterNACHI® membership benefits.
Some features which make InterNACHI's courses superior to existing continuing education options:
- The course is free for all InterNACHI members.
- The course is written in pure XHTML code for quick loading. The course loads fine on old computers and loads fast, even with dial-up.
- The course is designed using a hierarchal menu coupled with a sequential page navigation. This provides the student with the option to easily repeat areas of weakness.
- The course permits the student to start, stop and restart any part of the course as often as desired.
- There are a variety of images within the course, including diagrams, illustrations and photos.
- The illustrations can be enlarged for clearer viewing by clicking on them.
- The text is integrated into InterNACHI's Inspector Glossary. Rolling over blue-colored terms provides their definition.
- The final exam uses multiple-choice questions that reference the images.
- The course's quizzes and final exam have numerous advantages over traditional exam systems:
- The course, quizzes and final exam incorporate built-in intelligence which identifies and strengthens each student's unique subject weaknesses.
- Not only is each question weighted with regard to score, but each answer is weighted, as well as the correctness of each answer being weighted.
- Answers to easy questions are weighted such that the student is penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly, but rewarded modestly for answering correctly.
- Answers to difficult questions are weighted such that the student is rewarded, in terms of score, for answering correctly, but not penalized for answering incorrectly.
- Answers to questions regarding basic safety, or questions every inspector should know the answer to, are weighted such that the student is severely penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly.
- Upon passing the final exam, the student can print out a Certificate of Completion which is auto-generated in their own name.
The student's (InterNACHI member's) information is recorded on InterNACHI's servers for membership compliance verification, and automatically logs completion into InterNACHI's online Continuing Education log.
InterNACHI® Members:
Take the free, online How to Inspect Pools and Spas course now (free to InterNACHI members).
Not a member yet?
Join today for access to this and thousands
of other InterNACHI® membership benefits.