Description

Certified Park and Recreation Professional, or CPRP, is a national certification program through the National Recreation and Park Association, and it is designed for park and recreation professionals that wish to put their career on the path to success. Achieving and maintaining this nationally-recognized certification illustrates a commitment to professional growth as well as an intricate understanding of key concepts within the field of parks and recreation. This 6-week course will train and prepare participants to sit for the CPRP exam. Each class will focus on a specific learning module found in the CPRP study guide: Human Resources, Communications, Finance, Programming, and Operations. A FREE practice exam will be offered upon completion of the class. Come learn and network with aspiring CPRP's and join an elite group of professionals that have committed to advancing the field of parks and recreation. Classes taught by Katie Troline, CPRE, MBA, AAPRA Fellow (Gold Medal Force, LLC).

To qualify for the exam (not the prep course), you must meet the following NRPA eligibility requirements:

Have received, or is set to receive, a Bachelor's degree from a program accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT), or

Have a Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited education institution (from a non-COAPRT accredited program), with a major in recreation, park resources, or leisure services, and no less than 1 year of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources, or a related profession that encompasses each domain of the job analysis, or

Have a Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited education institution, with a major other than recreation, park resources, or a related profession, and no less than 2 years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources, or a related profession that encompasses each domain of the job analysis, or

Hold an associate's degree from a regionally accredited education institution and no less than 4 years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources, and a related profession that encompasses each domain of the job analysis, or

Hold a high school diploma or equivalency certificate from a regionally accredited institution and no less than 6 years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources, or a related profession that encompasses each domain of the job analysis

Note: Students who have not yet graduated from a COAPRT accredited program but are in their final semester may be able to qualify for exam status. They may complete the CPRP exam prior to completion of the internship requirement and academic degree attainment. Certification may be granted upon passing the CPRP exam and after submission of documentation verifying graduation. All students must apply through the NRPA office.

Registration deadline is Thursday, February 19. 2026.

Who Should Attend: Professionals from varying special interest groups and levels of experience (must meet one criteria above) are encouraged to pursue CPRP designation to stay at the forefront of the parks and recreation profession. Additionally, CPRP certification is a pre-requisite for Certified Park & Recreation Executive (CPRE) eligibility.

Course Fees: The cost to participate in the six-week course is determined by your IPRA membership, not NRPA membership. IPRA members pay a discounted rate to participate.

Book Fees: The cost to purchase a study guide is determined by your NRPA membership. NRPA members pay a discounted rate for the materials. Visit https://www.nrpa.org/certification/CPRP/cprp-resources/ to order the CPRP Study Guide 6th Edition.

Financial Assistance: Click Here to apply for a scholarship through the Illinois Park & Recreation Foundation by January 31st!

CEUs: Program is not approved for CEUs.

*Classes to start 30 minutes later due to longer modules for CPRE (earlier in the morning).