How we list members

Every member on this directory goes through a real accreditation review before their listing goes live — business license, liability insurance, background checks, and a safety attestation, each reviewed and confirmed by our team, not just collected and taken at their word. Members can also add optional verified certifications, such as CPR/first aid, lifeguard credentials, or Certified Pool Operator (CPO).

Each confirmed check gets a real date, shown on the member's own page under "Accreditation status." Badges you see on a listing, like "Locally Owned" or a multi-year anniversary, are a separate layer — awarded directly by us, not self-reported by the member.

This directory isn't a marketplace. Members don't pay for placement, and listing order isn't influenced by anything but a neutral sort. It's a directory of businesses that have earned real accreditation through our review process.

What we check

• Business license — A current, valid business license for the state/municipality you operate in, plus any pool/spa contractor license or aquatic facility permit that applies to the work you do.
• Liability insurance (COI) — A certificate of insurance showing active general liability coverage for your pool service or swim instruction work, with no exclusion for the pool chemicals you handle or the aquatic instruction you provide.
• Background check — Results from a background-check vendor of your choice, covering yourself and every staff member who works on customers' property or with children, including every swim instructor.
• Safety attestation — A signed attestation that the business follows baseline safety practices for aquatic work: a Safety Data Sheet is kept for every pool chemical in use; chemicals are stored, handled, and transported according to their labels and Safety Data Sheets by staff trained to do so; pool owners are told in writing about unsafe conditions found on site, such as damaged or missing drain covers or gates that don't close and latch; and, where the business teaches or supervises swimmers, rescue equipment is on hand during lessons and a written child-safeguarding policy is in place.
• CPR / First Aid certification — An optional verification: current CPR and First Aid certification (for example, from the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or an equivalent provider) held by you or your staff. Upload the certificate or card showing its expiration date.
• Lifeguard credentials — An optional verification, mainly for swim schools: current lifeguard certification (for example, American Red Cross Lifeguarding, YMCA, or an equivalent program) held by you or the staff who supervise lessons and swim sessions. Upload the certificate showing its expiration date.
• Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO) or equivalent — An optional verification, mainly for pool service companies: a current Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO) certification from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, or an equivalent pool operator certification, held by you or a technician on staff. Upload the certificate showing its expiration date.

What we don't check

• The quality of any individual service visit or lesson — a confirmed check is about eligibility to be listed here, not a guarantee of how a specific job will go.
• Pricing — members set their own rates and quote directly.
• Day-to-day staffing, scheduling, or how a member runs their business.
• Your pool's code compliance — barrier, drain cover, and equipment requirements are set by your local jurisdiction.
• Anything before the date shown next to a confirmed check — accreditation reflects what was reviewed as of that date, not an ongoing live audit.