|
Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board (IPRCB) |
The Illinois Park and Recreation
Certification Board consists of Certified
Park & Recreation Professionals
appointed by the various sections of the
Illinois Park and Recreation Association,
as approved by IPREA's Board. The chair is
appointed by the IPREA President and
serves three years.
While the Illinois Park and Recreation
Certification Board is separate from the
Illinois Park and Recreation Association,
IPRA fully endorses and supports IPRCB.
The Certification Board administers
the Illinois Park and Recreation
Certification Plan. Board duties include
development of procedures, forms and
materials; maintenance of full records;
review of appeals; evaluation and
recommendations to the National
Certification Board; seek ways to promote
participation in the Plan and promote the value of
professional certification.
The Certification Board meets several times
each year to conduct business. Anyone
interested in attending can call IPRA for
meeting times, dates and location.
|
 On-Line Continuing Education Center 
|
| New Certification Plan (rev. 2008)
|
| 2008 CPRP Application Form
|
| 2008 CPRP Study Guide Order Form
|
Certification Plan |
|
The National Certification Plan
(endorsed by NRPA) was approved and
implemented in 1981.
NOTE: The plan was changed in 2007 with the new requirements taking effect on 01/01/2008.
|
What Types of Certification are Available? |
|
There is one national level professional certification currently available:
- Certified Park & Recreation
Professional (CPRP)
Certified Park and Recreation
Professional (CPRP)
A Bachelor's Degree from an NRPA/AALR
accredited program, verified by official
transcript, and pass the CPRP
examination.
OR
A Bachelor's Degree or higher from a
regionally accredited education
institution (without NRPA/AALR
accreditation), verified by official
transcript, with a major in recreation,
park resources and leisure services, and
no less than one year full-time
experience (following the degree) in a
recreation, park resources and leisure
service position, and pass the CPRP
examination.
OR
A Bachelor's Degree or higher from a
regionally accredited educational
institution, verified by official
transcript, with a major other than
recreation, park resources and leisure
services, and no less than three years
full-time experience (following the
degree) in a recreation, park resources
and leisure service position, and pass the CPRP
examination.
OR
Associate Park & Recreation
Professional (APRP)
An Associate's Degree
OR
High School Diploma or equivalency
certificate, verified by official
documentation and no less than five years
full-time experience (following the
diploma or certificate) in a recreation,
park resources and leisure service
position, and pass the CPRP examination. |
How Do I Become Certified? |
|
Application to the certification
program is year-round. Interested
candidates submit an application
detailing education and experience,
accompanied by an official transcript and
application fee to NRPA.
Mailing Address:
National Park & Recreation Association
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148-4501
Phone: 703-858-0784
Web: www.nrpa.org
2008 CPRP Application Form
|
What is the National Exam? |
|
The examination is designed to assess
the core knowledge of job-related tasks
common to entry-level professionals. The
examination is administered under the auspices of the NRPA National
Certification Board.
The exam is offered year-round,
Monday-Friday, two sittings a day (AM & PM), and has a
fee of $195. The exam is administered via computerized
testing at designated Applied Measurement
Professionals (AMP) testing centers. The computerized
test is comprised of:
- 10 sample questions to familiarize
yourself with the computer (not scored)
- 150 test questions, including 125 upon
which your score will be based, and 25 randomly inserted
questions that will not be scored but are being
validated for possible exam use.
- Categories include administration (48
questions), programming (44 questions), and operations
(33 questions).
Three hours is allowed for
completion of the exam. Approximate passing score is
70%, or within a few points of 85, and test results are
provided to you on-site. You will receive a separate
score per content area, and a total score. You will not
be provided individual question results.
For a current list of testing
facilities, visit
www.goamp.com.
As of 5/12/04, Illinois facilities included Carbondale,
Champaign/Urbana, Rockford, Springfield, Glen Ellyn,
Libertyville, Matteson, Naperville, and two Chicago
locations.
A Candidate Handbook was developed to outline exam
policies and content, such as:
- Examination appointment changes
- Refunds
- Identification requirements
- Preparing for the examination
- Test content outline
- Sample questions
To download the Candidate Handbook,
visit www.goamp.com.
|
Is There Study Assistance? |
|
IPRA offers the following options
for studying assistance:
- Click
here to purchase the NRPA Study Guide.
- Study Session at annual conference in
January
- Study nights offered at the IPRA
headquarters in Oak Brook Terrace, IL; an opportunity to study
alone, or create a study group. IPRA has several
textbooks in the study guide bibliography available in
our library. The next study nights are scheduled for:
- Please check the IPRA Calendar for dates..
- Study at IPRA anytime during the week – days or
evenings. Simply call ahead for an appointment.
Connecting professionals interested in
forming a study group via a list on our website. Sign up
for this service on your exam application.
2008 CPRP Study Guide Order Form
|
How is Certification Maintained? |
|
Certification remains current for
two-year cycles with renewal on the fixed
date of June 1. When a Provisional
Professional upgrades to a CPRP, their
renewal cycle DOES NOT CHANGE.
Once a person is certified, they are
required to earn 2.0 continuing education
units (CEUs) during each two-year cycle
to maintain their certification. CEUs can
be earned through attending CEU-approved
workshops, viewing CEU approved videos
and preparing a two page paper, or
completing pre-approved college courses.
|
What are CEUs? |
|
CEU stands for Continuing Education
Unit. One Continuing Education Unit is
defined as ten contact hours of
participation in an organized continuing
education experience under responsible
sponsorship, capable direction, and
qualified instruction. CPRPs, PPRPs, and
APRPs are all required to earn 2.0 CEUs (20 hours) of continuing education during each
two-year certification period.
WARNING:
Don't confuse continuing education units
with continuing education credits (CEC), or contact hours. A CEC is a
different form of measurement and is
accepted by other certification boards. Contact hours may not have
met CEU standards. These alternate
forms of continuing education may be
approved for CEUs by request of the IPRCB. Download an Application
for CEUs. There is a nominal $5 fee for this
service.
Applications for CEU approval must be received
within 30 days of the completion of the workshop.
|
|
