20,000 Park and Recreation Professionals Now Certified by NRPA

(June 7, 2016)

New milestone demonstrates association’s commitment to the advancement of parks and recreation

Ashburn, Va. (June 7, 2016) — As an innovative leader in providing quality continuing education and professional development opportunities for park and recreation professionals, and citizens alike, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is proud to announce that it has successfully certified 20,000 individuals in the field of parks and recreation. Centered on conservation, health and wellness, and social equity, NRPA’s advanced certification programs equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to enhance the quality of parks and recreation nationwide.

“This new milestone solidifies the fact that NRPA is the gold standard in park and recreation education and professional development,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA president and CEO. “Through our state-of-the-art certification and education programs we are helping our local park and recreation agencies thrive — making a positive impact on the communities they serve and beyond.”

Currently, NRPA offers four state-of-the-art certification programs:

  • The Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) Certification, designed for beginning to mid-level park and recreation professionals, focuses on the key concepts within parks and recreation (e.g. Finance, Human Resources, Operations and Programming).
  • The Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) Certification, designed for middle to upper-level management park and recreation professionals, focuses on the knowledge and skills needed in today’s changing park and recreation environment (e.g. Finance, Human Resources, Operations, Planning and Communications).
  • The Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) Certification, designed for pool operators and aquatic facility managers, evaluates the professional’s knowledge of the mechanical, chemical, operations and risk management skills needed to ensure healthy, efficient, successful and vibrant aquatic facilities.
  • The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Certification assesses an individual’s knowledge and understanding of playground safety hazard identification, equipment specification, surfacing requirements and risk management methods.

Other continuing education opportunities offered by NRPA include the association’s content-based schools, NRPA Innovation Labs and NRPA Annual Conference scheduled for Oct. 5–8 in St. Louis. NRPA also offers online education, including regular webinars and more than 30 online courses that cover vital park and recreation topics.

To learn more about NRPA’s certification programs and professional development opportunities, visit www.nrpa.org/education-certification.

To learn more about the NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.

About The National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

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Media Contact:

Heather Williams
@NRPA_News