The truth about certification.

What is certification?

Certification is an act of professionalism. It benefits both the public served and those who provide the service as an action of quality control. It is the verification by an agency that those who are certified have the skills, knowledge, and the ability to do the work for which they are employed.

Why become certified?

Park and recreation professionals take great pride in their work and, after years of voluntary registration and certification, the National Recreation and Park Association instituted a national certification program. It is governed by the National Certification Board, with the Certified Leisure Professional certification examination being the cornerstone of its effort. Some park and recreation agencies require it for employment, while others use it when considering salary increases and promotions. It is important to park and recreation departments when they seek agency accreditation. It also has benefits to the individual agency, should issues of liability come into play.

Who is eligible to take the CLP examination?

Experience and academic training are the two major criteria used to determine eligibility. Those graduating with a bachelor's degree from an NRPA/AALR-accredited program are eligible to take the exam immediately upon graduation. Those with a bachelor's or higher degree in recreation not from an NRPA/AALR-accredited institution may take the exam once they have had two years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources, or leisure service position. Those who hold a bachelor's degree in a major other than recreation and are employed by a park and recreation agency may take the exam once they have had five years of full-time experience. The examination tests the job knowledge needed for an entry-level position in the field.

What is the Certified Leisure Professional examination?

The CLP exam was developed by the National Certified Leisure Professional Examination Committee (NCLPEC), formerly the National Certification Examination Committee, in cooperation with Applied Measurement Professionals of Lenexa, Kansas. The committee is comprised of 12 professionals, each of whom is an expert in one of four areas of practice: management, programming, park and recreation resources, and therapeutic recreation. The exam is based upon an extensive job analysis of parks, recreation, and leisure service positions. Several hundred professionals throughout the country were asked to describe their job responsibilities. The Certified Leisure Professional examination contains questions related to three levels of performance: those tasks that require recall, those that require some application of knowledge, and those that require some analysis. Within each of the four major content areas (management, program delivery, natural resource management, and therapeutic recreation), questions related to each of these three levels of performance are included. Individuals are allowed three hours to take the examination.

Can I prepare for the exam?

Yes, it is possible to prepare for the exam by becoming familiar with the exam format and by increasing your knowledge base about the latest information in each of the four major content areas. NRPA has published The Official Study Guide for the Certified Leisure Professional Examination. It also conducts workshops for those wishing to take the exam. The workshop features the benefit of interaction with other professionals and with the workshop leadership. They utilize the study guide and draw upon the knowledge of the workshop leaders who have been involved at some point with the examination development process. Experience suggests that becoming "test wise" may improve one's score on a multiple-choice exam. For example, each exam question consists of responses; one is the key response, the others are distracters. One may become more effective in taking the exam by learning to discern which responses are distracters.

Is it really worth the effort?

Yes, becoming certified is important. It is a statement about the uniqueness of an occupation and its requirements for effective service delivery. It has important implications for employment, professional preparation, and accountability. The public and our personnel administrators can take heart in knowing that those who are certified as CLPs have a demonstrable level of skill and understanding and are constantly participating in programs to upgrade their knowledge and competencies. The CLP examination is given at various locations each November. For information regarding the examination or workshops to prepare for the exam, contact NRPA's Division of Professional Services at [phone].