VRPS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

 

 

Certified Professionals as of November 1, 2008

WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?

Professional certification is the term applied to the process whereby an individual voluntarily submits his or her credentials for review based upon clearly identified competencies, criteria, or standards. The National Recreation & Park Association’s (NRPA) primary purpose for developing the Certified Park & Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification is to ensure that personnel employed in recreation, park resources, and leisure services meet high standards of performance.

Certification is one way to achieve individual recognition, enhance self-esteem, and gain respect of parks and recreation peers and the public. Certification enhances the credibility of the individual and the profession as well as provides a reward system for those individuals who achieve a high level of professionalism. The accompanying plan for the national certification of recreation, park resources, and leisure service personnel in Virginia by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) affords a means of attesting to the education and experience qualifications of personnel employed for compensation in recreation, park resources and leisure service, in public, quasi-public, and private employment. Membership in the VRPS shall not be a prerequisite for certification.

The purposes of this plan are: to establish standards for certification in the recreation, park resources, and leisure service profession to provide recognition of individuals who have qualified, and to afford a guarantee to employers that certified personnel have attained stated education and experience qualifications. This certification plan meets the minimum qualifications of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Individuals certified under this plan thus qualify for inclusion in the National Roster of certified recreation, park resources, and leisure service personnel.

 

back to top

WHY BECOME CERTIFIED?

Attainment of certification assures employers that certified personnel:  meet prescribed education, experience and continuing education requirements have shown a dedication to their chosen profession through voluntary certification. Increasingly, employers are listing certification as a desirable element of employment. On a larger scale, the certified practitioner raises the quality of service nationwide and aids in public recognition of the profession.

back to top

 

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR CERTIFICATION?

Any individual who meets the qualifications stated herein shall be eligible for certification under the Certification Plan without consideration of race, creed, sex, age or handicapping condition, whether employed under public, quasi-public, or private auspices. (Therapeutic recreation personnel may be certified under this plan.   In addition, an applicant may elect that a specialization in therapeutic recreation be noted if National Certification has previously been awarded by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification and official documentation of same is furnished with this application.)  

 

LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION

 

Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)

 

  • Those with this credential have qualified by achieving any one of the following combinations of education and experience.

    • A bachelor's degree from an NRPA/AALR Accredited Program verified by official transcript, and successful completion of the CPRP Examination; OR

    • A bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited education institute (without NRPA/AALR accreditation), verified by official transcript, with a major in recreation, park resources and leisure services and no less than 1 year of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources and leisure service position following the degree, and successful completion of the CPRP examination; OR

    • A bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited education institution, verified by official  transcript, with a major other than recreation, park resources and leisure services and no less than five years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources and leisure position following the degree, and successful completion of the CPRP examination.
      •
    • High School Diploma, equivalency certificate, or Associates Degree from a regionally accredited institution, verified by official transcript/documentation; have no less than five years full time experience in a recreation, park resources, and leisure services position following the diploma/degree; and pass the CPRP examination.
    • Students who have not yet graduated from an NRPA accredited program with a major in recreation, park resources, and leisure services, but are in their final semester, may be able to qualify for exam status.  Students may complete the CPRP exam prior to the completion of the intership requirement and academic degree attainment.  Certification may be granted upon passing the CPRP exam and after submission of official transcript/documentation verifying graduation.  All students must apply directly through NRPA.

       

HOW DO I BECOME CERTIFIED? 

  1. Graduate with a degree in recreation, parks, or leisure services from a nationally accredited college/university and obtain final transcript. Degrees in other majors or from a non-accredited college/university must be accompanied with full-time experience.
  2. Tour www.vrps.com for Certification information and applications AND Review NRPA CPRP Examination Canditate Handbook from www.nrpa.org
  3. Complete new certification application, request transcript from school and letter from employer if experience is to be proven.
  4. Contact VRPS with questions
  5. Mail completed application with fee, transcript(s) and letter(s) to VRPS
  6. Await the review process (appox. 45 days)
  7. Receive eligibility results and Exam Application and instructions from VRPS PCB
  8. Study! Study! Study! Go to www.nrpa.org/store to purchase Study Guide
  9. Schedule exam with AMP Testing Company
  10. Take CPRP exam
  11. Receive exam results and CPRP credentials
  12. Congratulations you’re a CPRP! Receive CPRP certificate from VRPS

CERTIFICATION FEES - effective January 2008

APPLICATIONS

VRPS Member

Non-Member

Initial Application:

    

CPRP

$35

$45

NRPA Exam Fee (made payable to NRPA)

$195

$195
Renewal Application (every two years)

$25

$35
Transfer Certification (to another state)

$25

$35
Official Transcript of CEU's earned

$10

$10
CEU Session Approval for a Workshop:
    
Individual Professional

$2.00 per .1 CEU requested

$3.00 per .1 CEU requested
Organization or VRPS Service Area/Resource Group

$30

$35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 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 management (41 questions), programming (49 questions), and operations (35 questions).
  • Three hours are 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.

WHERE IS THE TEST GIVEN?

  • The CPRP examination is offered throughout the United States. 
  • For a list of the testing centers nearest you, go to www.goAMP.com.     

HOW DO I STAY CERTIFIED?

As evidence of continued professional development, continuation of certification shall be required and shall be contingent upon completion of a minimum of two (2) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or two hours of academic course credit from an accredited college/university in each twenty-four month period from the date of initial certification or re-certification. An application and the required fee for continued certification must be submitted by the applicant to the Professional Certification Board within 90 days following the anniversary date of certification.  Failure to satisfactorily document successful completion of these requirements with ninety (90) days of the anniversary date of certification shall result in the withdrawal of certification.  PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CEU'S AND ACADEMIC COURSES MUST BE COMPLETED DURING THE 24 MONTH RENEWAL PERIOD AND MUST MEET CURRENT STANDARDS. A MINIMUM OF .1 CEU'S MUST HAVE BEEN AWARDED FOR EACH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM SUBMITTED.  THERE IS NO LIMIT OR MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CEU'S AWARDED FOR EACH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PROVIDED IT MEETS CURRENT IACET STANDARDS.

WHAT IS A CEU SESSION?

The primary goal of a CEU session is to improve performance. The majority of delegates are seeking CEUs for renewing their professional certification. CEU sessions may be one session (1 hour and 15 minutes) or may be a double session (2 hours and 30 minutes). Partial CEUs will not be awarded.

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVING A SESSION FOR CEU'S?

  1. Activity is planned in response to educational needs that have been identified for a target audience.
  2. Activity has clear, concise, and measurable written statements of intended learning outcomes.
  3. Qualified instructional personnel are involved in planning and conducting each activity.
  4. Content and instructional methods are appropriate for the intended learning outcomes of each activity.
  5. Participants must demonstrate their attainment of the learning outcomes.
  6. The participants evaluate each learning activity.

Applications

Please Note: Individual CEU Session Approval Applications must be made within 30 days of program completion.