Certifiably worth it: the benefits of certification are endless.

The most vibrant individuals are never satisfied with their present level of knowledge. For park and recreation professionals, certification is an important part of that never-ending education. Certification is a self-imposed standard of achievement, determined and monitored by professional peers who will facilitate your recognition as a park, recreation and leisure services professional.

In addition to its personal merits, certification has important external benefits. The commitment to validate what we do through a certification program is critical to enhancing our profession. As the NRPA Board of Trustees declared in 1999, "Because of the specific professional skills required for park and recreation leadership in the 21st century, the National Recreation and Park Association recommends that cities, towns, counties and special districts entrust the administration of their leisure service investment in those persons who are properly educated, professionally trained and certified."

NRPA promotes three professional certifications: certified park and recreation professional (CPRP), certified playground safety inspector (CPSI) and aquatic facilities operator (AFO). Although the benefits discussed in this article transcend all certification programs, we'll focus on examples related to the CPRP designation.

The Benefits are Endless

"The benefits are endless" message about parks and recreation in general is equally applicable to certification. In states such as Florida, certification is required for those wishing to serve as committee chairs or members of the board of directors in the state association. Many departments and state associations provide other incentives and tangible rewards to employees who earn and maintain certification.

Many municipal departments, such as Salisbury, N.C., Little Rock, Ark., and Northborough, Ma., pay the certification fee for employees. In New Cumberland, Pa., certification allows program coordinators to be eligible for promotion to the position of senior program coordinator II. The Mason (Ohio) Park and Recreation Department provides financial support for training and certification, including conferences where staff earns continuing education units (CEUs).

State associations also have found ways to assist members in the quest for certification. State associations such as the Oregon Recreation and Park Association and the Oklahoma Recreation & Park Society have established grant programs to provide financial reimbursement to members for certification exam costs.

In Kansas, professional development grants are used to reimburse members' certification exam fees for professionals who pass the exam but don't have financial support from their department. The Colorado Professional Certification Board and the South Carolina Recreation and Park Association have established scholarship programs to reimburse members for examination fees.

There are other examples of innovations at the state level. The Missouri Park and Recreation Association purchases the publications recommended in the CPRP official study guide and makes them available to state association members who are candidates. The Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association has implemented a broader professional development scholarship, awarded twice a year, to support members in conference attendance to earn CEUs as well as examination fees. The Leisure Careers Foundation, in association with the Georgia Recreation and Park Association, reimburses the full amount of test costs to individuals who have successfully completed the CPRP exam.

Teamwork Works

The success of certification takes a unified effort. Here's what each key player can do to ensure certification success.

Supervisors

* You, or your hiring authority, make the commitment to require professional certification for all full time employees.

* Identify resources (time, travel support, in-service training, etc.) that you can make available to enable employees the opportunity to earn and maintain certification.

* Have all employees identify their current status regarding certification.

* Have those who aren't certified identify what requirements they need to fulfill.

* Achieve support of your budgetary authority for real commitment to professional development and certification of your staff.

* Publicize, via community media resources, the members of your staff who have achieved certification.

Employees

* If not already certified, begin preparing for the CPRP examination.

* Identify resources your department or state association can provide, locate the most convenient testing site and acquire review materials.

* Identify opportunities for CEUs/ professional service experiences (PSE) in which you can participate that will enhance your professional efforts.

* Offer to conduct briefings for peers, supervisors, and boards to share information gained through CEU/PSE. Suggest specific ways in which your professional development can be used to benefit the department.

Educators

* Be a role model by maintaining professional certification.

* Communicate to NRPA ways in which professional certification and professional development can be encouraged early in a student's career.

* Provide the National Certification Board and Council for Accreditation feedback on how professional involvement and certification should be incorporated into the curriculum.

* Communicate to students the importance and benefits of securing certification.

NRPA and State Associations

* Lobby for certification as a requirement for employment in public sector agencies.

* Be responsive in providing CEU opportunities that meet the needs of your professional members.

Certification isn't easy to attain or to maintain, nor should it be. Rather, it should be a benchmark of expertise, a symbol of professionalism to our constituencies and a demonstration of continuing commitment to excellence in the programs, services and facilities we provide. As NRPA's Board of Trustees has stated, "Those individuals who commit themselves to improving their community through park and recreation leadership should be professionally certified through their appropriate certification board."

As a profession, we must strive for the personal achievement and continued development that certification facilitates. In addition, the community benefits when their professionals are certified. The process is a distinguishing characteristic of our profession. Certification requires a commitment to continuing education programs and professional involvement as long as one remains certified. It indicates a strong commitment to professional growth and a positive influence on new professionals.

Press Any Key to Continue

The initial certification exam can now be taken via computerized testing at more than 80 H&R Block offices throughout the U.S. This format was chosen to make the exam available to more professionals, minimizing travel cost and distance, and maximizing year-round scheduling. Exam candidates now have the flexibility to create, in essence, a personalized examination timeline. Once registered, the candidate has up to six months to take the exam. In addition to choosing the preferred date, time and location, candidates can also schedule the test date in such a way as to allow independent preparation or attendance at a NRPA- or state association-sponsored exam review seminar.

NRPA's Web site (www.nrpa.org) has a wealth of information pertaining to certification. Resources on the site include a listing by states of who to contact in your area, background information on certification exams and more background information on the benefits of certification. From the NRPA home page, select "Education/Training" from the menu of options on the left of the screen. That page includes links to more information on the three certification programs that NRPA promotes.

Susan Hubble, Ed.D., CPRP, is an associate professor of recreation in the School of Human Performance and Recreation at the University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg. Michaell Taylor, Ed.D., CPRP, is a professor of leisure management in the Department of Physical Education and Leisure Management at Columbus State University, in Columbus, Ga. Hubble can be reached at [e-mail].