2026 Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course - Fall (October)

Description

The CPSI course is a national certification program delivered by National Recreation and Park Association and co-hosted by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. It is designed to train individuals on how to identify hazards on public playgrounds and playground equipment, prioritize those hazards by injury potential, and establish a playground safety program. This is an in-person program that gives candidates the option to register for the course and exam (3 days), course only (2 days), or exam only (1 day). Regardless of work experience, it is highly recommended that candidates complete the course before taking the exam. If your job requires you to oversee playground equipment at schools or parks, or you are looking to further educate yourself on playground safety, you are encouraged to pursue this certification to help make playgrounds safer for kids.

Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Location

Village of South Elgin - Public Safety Center, located at 50 S. Water Street, South Elgin, IL 60177

Course Materials 

Registration for course and course/exam includes the 6th edition CPSI course manual. Course materials and pre-course reading assignments will be sent to attendees at least 4 weeks before the start of the course.

Registration for the exam only is common for certification renewal and therefore does not include the CPSI course manual.

Special Exam Accommodations

Candidates with a disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may request a special accommodation for the exam. The Request for Special Exam Accommodations should be completed and submitted to IPRA by Tuesday, September 1, 2026. 

English as a second language (ESL) candidates may request a time extension and/or the use of a strict translation dictionary. The ESL Accommodation Request Form must be submitted to IPRA by Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

CEUs

Course is approved for 1.5 continuing education units and will be awarded to those in attendance for both days of class. The course content has been approved for 15 total hours of CPSI continuing education, broken down into two categories listed below:

• Group A (Hazard ID, Risk Management) - 0.8 CEUs
• Group B (Surfacing, Playground Environment, Audit, Inspect & Maint) - 0.7 CEUs

For more information about the CPSI certification renewal policy, visit NPRA's website at  https://www.nrpa.org/certification/CPSI/cpsi-recertification-policy-faqs/.

Course & Exam Schedule

For complete details on the course/exam schedule, click here. 

Registrants will receive a welcome letter shortly after registration with additional details about how to prepare for the course & exam.

Interested in Sponsoring?
There is one level of sponsorship opportunity available for interested organizations. Click 'Sponsor Registration' at the top of the page or click here to access IPRA's full sponsorship prospectus.