Become certified.
Earn certifications that demonstrate your professional credibility and elevate your standing in the pool and spa industry. Our programs strengthen your expertise and expand your opportunities, no matter your area of practice.
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Foreman
This industry-recognized certification shows that you have the skills and knowledge to build basic pools, spas, and other water features to a high, global standard. This certification is also the first step toward earning more advanced credentials in the industry.
- Fulfills licensing requirements in several jurisdictions: Alabama, Connecticut, New York (Counties: Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk), Ohio,
- A prerequisite for most advanced WU certification
1 course + Exam required:
CONSTRUCTION 2111: Essential Pool Construction
IACET CEUs: 2.4
Hours: 24
Learning Objectives
- Explore the scope and nuances of major renovation projects.
- Review images that will inspire design and illustrate key concepts.
- Develop a complete renovation project from site analysis, troubleshooting existing problems and failures, through first-draft design.
- Describe the scope of work, design, material selection, structural engineering, mechanical systems, construction considerations and project management.
Completed the course? Apply for the exam here.
Certification for pool builders and designers reflects a progression of mastery, from core construction skills to advanced engineering and design. Each credential establishes credibility and authority in shaping complex aquatic environments. The path culminates at the International Watershape Institute, the ultimate mark of professional excellence and prestige within the industry.
11 total classes
Foreman
Builder
A continuation of the path begun while earning the Foreman Certification, the Builder Certification indicates completion of advanced studies in business administration, fluid engineering and design modeling—courses that combine to create a foundation for indispensable professional disciplines.
CWF + 3 classes required:
BUSINESS 3451: Essential Cost Estimating Workshop
IACET CEUs: 0.8
Hours: 8
Learning Objectives
- Describe correct markup and gross margin using accurate profit and loss financial data.
- Discuss payment schedules, cash flow, and construction contracts.
- Identify key factors for maintaining consistent payment schedules for project fees.
- List methods for developing accurate construction cost estimates and calculations for items such as weight of reinforcing steel, excavation volume, trenching, concrete, and other project phases.
Want to take this course?
ENGINEERING 2311: Essential Fluid Engineering Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- List key fluid engineering concepts including area, volume, volume, depth, mass, flow rate, pressure, velocity, energy, head pressure and others.
- Apply basic hydraulic principles, guidelines, standards and code limitations to watershape design.
- Discuss efficiency principles including total dynamic head (TDH), electrical efficiency, energy costs and heating efficiency.
- Practice using apps for pipe sizing and other key calculations.
DESIGN 2131: Essential SketchUp Modeling Workshop for Beginners
IACET CEUs: 16
Hours: 1.6
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate 3D-modeling tools including SketchUp, SketchUp Pro and SketchUp LayOut.
- Define axis, drawing tools, solids, extrusions, layers, styles, paint and other applications.
- Explore plan views, sections, elevations and other details used to develop presentation models.
- Contrast two and three-point perspective.
Want to take this course?
Designer
All watershape projects begin with design. This coveted certification requires completion of courses that dive deep into perspective drawing, application of design principles including color theory, materials and textures—nothing less than the path to design excellence.
CWF + 3 essential classes + 1 elective required:
DESIGN 1111: Essential Perspective Drawing Workshop
IACET CEUs: 0.8
Hours: 8
Learning Objectives
- List basic perspective drawing and presentation skills.
- Define visual attributes including plan views, elevations, sections, detailing and lettering.
- Explore linear perspectives through one- and two-point techniques used to create visual depth in two dimensions.
- Identify common drawing flaws and errors in perspective.
Want to take this course?
DESIGN 2211: Essential Principles of Design Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- List architectural elements of design including point, line, shape, space, texture, color and form.
- List architectural principles of design including balance, hierarchy/emphasis, repetition, rhythm, proportion/scale, movement, contrast and unity/harmony, variety, pattern, and negative space.
- Discuss design vocabulary, space programming and adjacency, design theory visual design basics, pool design trends and site features and the Blue Ocean Strategy.
- Apply elements and principles of design to an in-class project.
Want to take this course?
DESIGN 2611: Essential Color Theory, Materials & Textures Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- List the properties of light, vision and optical physics. Define color theory, primary colors, color “DNA”, blends and color mixing.
- Discuss the use of color wheels. Explore the concept of color psychology and how impacts mood and ultimately purchasing decisions.
- Consider how color can make or break design concepts.
- Introduce color psychology, how color can influence purchasing decisions.
Want to take this course?
Choose an elective
DESIGN 2311: Essential Architectural Styles - OR - DESIGN 2321: Essential History of Water in Architecture Workshop
DESIGN 2311: Essential Architectural Styles Workshop
IACET CEUs: 16
Hours: 1.6
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the importance of water in the built environment.
- Describe how water shaped civilization, the birth and growth of cities, and its influence on architecture throughout history.
- List several important water related projects you should know about as an architect or landscape architect.
- Describe design lessons inherited from these historical places and projects and what it might predict for our future in the watershaping world.
Want to take this course?
DESIGN 2321: Essential History of Water in Architecture Workshop
IACET CEUs: 12
Hours: 1.2
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the importance of water in the built environment.
- Describe how water shaped civilization, the birth and growth of cities, and its influence on architecture throughout history.
- List several important water related projects you should know about as an architect or landscape architect.
- Describe design lessons inherited from these historical places and projects and what it might predict for our future in the watershaping world.
Want to take this course?
Professional
One of WU’s highest certifications, the Professional badge represents the gold standard for construction professionalism. It indicates completion of rigorous advanced studies in business administration, custom fluid engineering, and specialized construction including high-end residential, commercial installations, and wellness facilities.
CWF + CWB + CWD + 2 essential classes + 1 elective required:
BUSINESS 1611: Essential Business Administration
IACET CEUs: 0.8
Hours: 8
Learning Objectives
- Identify key facets of running a business, including general and administrative issues, human resources, information technology, legal concerns, marketing, advertising, and sales.
- Describe contracts, insurance, liability, and dealing with difficult clients.
- Explore how to establish a healthy company culture, including hiring practices and how to retain and retrain employees to reflect that culture.
- Develop strategies for growth, from marketing and sales techniques, through construction and finally seamless hand-offs to ensure positive referrals.
Want to take this course?
ENGINEERING 4311: Essential Advanced Fluid Engineering Workshop
Pre-requisite: E2311: Essential Fluid Engineering
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- Define the meaning and scope of advanced hydraulics, hydrology, and fluid dynamics design, including complex gravity-fed and water-in-transit systems.
- Detail water-in-transit engineering including vanishing edges, slot-edges, gutters, and water features.
- Demonstrate use of the WatershapeAdvisor® series of software worksheets, including surge basin design, gravity and drainage systems, channels, lazy rivers, level-bottom slot channels, and more.
- Practice analyzing vanishing edge and slot-edge pool and spa combinations, as a class project.
Want to take this course?
CONSTRUCTION 4112: Residential - OR - CONSTRUCTION 4113: Commercial - OR - CONSTRUCTION 4114: Wellness
CONSTRUCTION 4112: Essential Advanced Watershapes – Residential
IACET CEUs: 16
Hours: 1.6
Learning Objectives
- Review site work including gravity plumbing, soil stabilization, pier and beam foundations, and advanced site work and forming.
- Identify ozone, U.V. sterilization, advanced oxidation processes (AOP), and control and automation systems.
- Examine architecturally integrated watershapes, dynamic pool floors and covers, acrylic windows and fire elements.
- Appraise glass tile installation, innovative aesthetic details, technical solutions to unique challenges and construction strategies at difficult sites.
Want to take this course?
CONSTRUCTION 4113: Essential Advanced Watershapes – Commercial
IACET CEUs: 16
Hours: 1.6
Learning Objectives
- Discuss project development including programming, concept design, standards, codes (e.g., ADA and MAHC), site, facility and ancillary requirements (e.g., toilets, showers, etc.)
- Evaluate operational considerations to balance construction budget and ongoing expenses with expected revenue for an optimal design.
- Define the phases of commercial design and construction and how these differ from residential projects.
- Assess contractor requirements, specifications, construction management, the submittal process, cash-flow, project delivery methods and ongoing warranties and service considerations.
Want to take this course?
CONSTRUCTION 4114: Essential Advanced Watershapes – Wellness
IACET CEUs: 16
Hours: 1.6
Learning Objectives
- List wellness elements that builders and retailers can add to their portfolios, expanding their business into new profitable offerings with little or no competition.
- Describe how wellness elements such as hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, light therapy and thermal therapy, affect mental, emotional and physical health and how to use these elements to control physiology in beneficial ways.
- Discuss design principles important to the success of any wellness center from layout to details such as core elements, colors, materials, lighting and HVAC.
- Appraise the importance of certain construction and operation considerations including vapor barriers, waterproofing, finish materials and building trades that may be unfamiliar to many pool builders.
Want to take this course?
International Watershape Institute
Our highest and most revered certification, IWI members represent the elite of the watershaping industry. A dynamic fellowship of artisan watershapers—all devoted to elevating the entire industry—IWI is where leadership and vision, for both today and tomorrow, is cultivated and spread.
IWI stands alone as the watershaping industry’s true platinum standard.
- Hold the highest level of certification as a professional in the pools, spa, and watershaping industry
- Comprehensive education, training, and mentorship from top leaders
- Join a global network of subject matter experts with decades of experience
- Stay up-to-date with best industry practices, events, new technologies, and more
- Brand exposure for your organization
Complete all prerequisite certification: CWF + CWB + CWD + CWP
Additional Resources: IWI website | IWI Member Network
Renovator
This credential demonstrates that you have met a globally recognized standard for expertly reshaping, reconfiguring, and renovating pools, spas, and waterfeatures—backed by verified training and a completed in-class project.
CWF + 1 class required:
CONSTRUCTION 2711: Essential Major Renovations Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- Explore the scope and nuances of major renovation projects.
- Review images that will inspire design and illustrate key concepts.
- Develop a complete renovation project from site analysis, troubleshooting existing problems and failures, through first-draft design.
- Describe the scope of work, design, material selection, structural engineering, mechanical systems, construction considerations and project management.
Want to take this course?
SERVICE 2811: Essential Watershape Operation & Maintenance
Specialized trades let you polish your strengths and deepen expertise in the areas that matter most to your practice—so you can advance with confidence and distinction.
* Note the Certified Watershape Foreman (CWF) is a prerequisite for most trade certifications (excluding BUSINESS 2121).
ENGINEERING 4411: Essential Electrical Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- Explain high-voltage terms, definitions, electrical-science and functionality including single and three-phase systems
- Calculate sizing of feeders, panels, breakers, conductors, conduits, voltage drop and other important design parameters using a series of worksheets
- Appraise proper installation considerations such as conduit and conductor routing developed through hands-on exercises
- Discuss, design and evaluate low-voltage measurement, communications, protocols and controls from simple chemical controllers to complex home automation integration
Want to take this course?
Finish Specialist
Successful application of plaster and the spectrum of available cementitious pool finishes requires a surprisingly nuanced skillset and level of operational control. The Finish Specialist Certification requires completion of a rigorous 40-hour hands-on course delving into surface preparation, mix design, pumping technology, troweling techniques, chemical washing, and initial service (start-up).
CWF + 1 class required:
CONSTRUCTION 3611: Essential Plaster Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- Establish a base line of acceptable pool concrete surface substrates and surface profiles prepped and made ready for a new plaster application.
- Discuss and demonstrate (in class) plaster design and mixology with related cementitious chemistry of a typical plaster mix.
- Instruct on plaster application techniques and examine texture and bond ability characteristics.
- Introduce moisture and submersion of new plaster applications and teach start up and pool care techniques for the new plaster.
Want to take this course?
Ozone Specialist
As water treatment technology continues to advance, understanding how to deploy state-of-the-art sanitizing and oxidation systems is essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable bather experience. This certification verifies completion of in-depth studies of ozone, UV and AOP treatment systems.
CWF + 1 class required:
ENGINEERING 3392: Essential Ozone, U.V. and AOP Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.2
Hours: 12
Learning Objectives
- Compare and contrast ozone science and performance to other industry sanitizers.
- Calculate fluid flow, ozone production, contact tank sizing, CT-values and other engineering parameters using guidance from standards and codes promulgated by the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) and the EPA.
- Describe ozone equipment components, disassembly, reassembly and routine maintenance to extend product life.
- Explore facilities using ozone in residential and commercial applications to evaluate various installation configurations including bypass versus dedicated-system designs.
Want to take this course?
Plumbing Specialist
There is no more essential skillset in the watershaping industry than plumbing. It is the circulatory system for watershapes of all types. Displaying this badge indicates completion of WU’s essential plumbing workshop, which includes pipe sizing, fittings, plumbing layout and a host of other pertinent plumbing fundamentals.
CWF + 1 class required:
CONSTRUCTION 3341: Essential Plumbing Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.2
Hours: 12
Learning Objectives
- Define proper means and methods for installing the various different plumbing systems commonly found within the swimming pool construction industry.
- Employ the means and methods to practice the skills necessary to properly execute these tasks in the field.
- Learn to correctly choose which materials will be appropriate for the specific scope of work for which they will be utilized.
- Apply basic hydraulic rules learned in the course to determine the proper sizing of piping materials for the specific applications for which they will be utilized.
Want to take this course?
Shotcrete Specialist
The majority of watershape structures are made of shotcrete. This essential construction certification requires in-depth study of the technical fundamentals including shotcrete logistics, mix characteristics, application techniques and surface preparation for finish applications.
CWF + 1 class + Exam required:
CONSTRUCTION 2241: Quality Shotcrete for Pools - Know it, Demand it
IACET CEUs: 0.8
Hours: 8
Learning Objectives
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Gain a fundamental understanding of the wet-mix and dry-mix (gunite) shotcrete process.
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Describe ACI and other Industry standards that detail acceptable shotcrete placement.
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Identify quality materials and placement methods.
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Recognize proper application techniques, and missteps that can reduce the quality of the final product.
Want to take this course?
Completed the course? Apply for the exam here.
Tile Specialist
Tile Specialist
Beautiful tile work is both eye-catching and enduring. Earning the Tile Specialist Certification requires completion of WU’s essential tile workshop. From simple tile lines to Baja shelves to all tile pools and spas, this course reveals the fine points of tile selection, design and installation.
CWF + 1 class required:
CONSTRUCTION 3641: Essential Tile Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
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Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Tile Industry Standard for tile installations in submerged environments, TCNA P-602.
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Identify best practices for designing glass tile within pool environments.
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Explore methods, tips, tools for preparing a shell to receive a mosaic full-tile layout, in-class and hands-on.
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Review hands-on techniques for mortar rendering and installation.
Want to take this course?
Waterproofing Specialist
Even the most beautiful and well-designed watershape is a failure if it doesn’t reliably hold water. This certification indicates completion of WU’s essential waterproofing workshop, which examines all forms of commonly used waterproofing systems and products.
CWF + 1 class required:
CONSTRUCTION 4621: Essential Waterproofing Workshop
IACET CEUs: 1.2
Hours: 12
Learning Objectives
- Discuss challenges of poured-in-place, wet mix and dry mix concrete placement as they relate to waterproofing.
- Identify waterproofing challenges and solutions from integral admixtures and penetrating sealers to topical products and bond coats.
- List environmental parameters and surface preparation specifications that will ensure success or guarantee failure if done incorrectly.
- Evaluate actual installations with a project tour and discussion.
Want to take this course?
BUSINESS 2121: Pool Inspections for Real Estate Transactions
IACET CEUs: 1.6
Hours: 16
Learning Objectives
- Perform a complete step-by-step residential pool inspection.
- Identify and diagnose pool issues that are in violation of national pool codes and standards, as well as those that may lead to costly repairs.
- Practice accurately recording all pool-issue findings.
- Generate a complete and informative pool inspection report.
Want to take this course?
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about any certification?
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