EYE ON THE PROFESSION
A CLOSER LOOK AT TRENDS AND ISSUES IN THE PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSION

Over the last 20 years, the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board has been the organization that implemented the National Certification Plan for the state. Throughout this period, Illinois has been revered for having the most certified park and recreation professionals in the country. We have also been revered for having standards higher than those of the national plan. This has been the tradition of Illinois: setting higher standards than the national average. We have been very successful.

The Illinois Park and Recreation Association staff and Board of Directors have been diligent in working with the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Certification Board over the past three years to convey the importance of certification, its credibility and the credibility of professionals who currently hold this designation across the country.

Despite our lobbying efforts, everything will change in 2008. These changes will affect your certification and all park and recreation professionals in Illinois.

At the September 2007 National Recreation and Park Association Congress in Indianapolis, the NRPA National Certification Board voted to change the National Certification Plan (effective on January 1, 2008) and completely centralize the National Certification Plan and its administration to NRPA by 2010.

These two changes will have a significant impact on the certified professionals in Illinois: No longer will there be a State Certification Plan or a State Certification Board, and the National Certification Plan has changed dramatically.

As a past National Certification Board Member and current Certified Park and Recreation Professional, I have voiced my concerns regarding the new standards and the implementation of those standards for the CPRP examination. Having the knowledge, background and experience of this plan on a national and state level, I would be remiss if I did not voice those concerns in a professional and knowledgeable manner to ensure the credibility of the only certification plan for park and recreation professionals in the country.

In my professional opinion, to change and potentially diminish the current standards of certification would jeopardize the credibility of the program and the importance of a professional certification that is held to such high esteem within other professions.

Changes to the Certification Plan

A look at the plan document reveals that the qualifications for taking the Certified Park and Recreation Professional exam have been reduced. Effective January 1, 2008, the changes to the plan include:

• Those wishing certification must hold a bachelor's degree from an NRPA accredited program, verified by official transcript and pass the CPRP examination. (This standard has not changed.)

Or, those wishing certification may hold a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited education institution (without an NRPA accredited program), verified by official transcript, with a major in recreation, park resources or leisure services; have no less than one year of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources or leisure service position that encompasses each domain of the job analysis following the degree; and must pass the CPRP examination. (There are new qualifications within this standard.)

• Or, those wishing certification may hold a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited education institution, verified by official transcript, with a major other than recreation, park resources or

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leisure services; have no less than three years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources and leisure position that encompasses each domain of the job analysis following the degree; and must pass the CPRP examination. (There are new qualifications within this new standard.)

•  Or, those wishing certification may hold a high school diploma, equivalency certificate, or associate's degree from a regionally accredited institution, verified by official transcript or other documentation; have no less than five years of full-time experience in a recreation, park resources, or leisure services position that encompasses each domain of the job analysis following the diploma or degree; and must pass the CPRP examination. (These are new qualifications for this standard and a new standard.)

•  Students who have not yet graduated from an NRPA accredited program with a major in recreation, park resources and leisure services but who are in their final semester may be able to qualify for exam status. They may complete the CPRP exam prior to the completion of the internship requirement and the attainment of their academic degree. Certification may be granted upon passing the CPRP exam and after submission of official transcripts or other documentation verifying graduation. All students must apply through the NRPA Office. (This is a new standard that was rejected by prior National Certification Boards.)

Under the new National Certification Plan, no new applications will be accepted for the Provisional Park and Recreation Professional (PPRP) or the Associate Park and Recreation Professional (APRP). Current designees will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the CPRP program using the aforementioned criteria. Designees that do not meet the stated criteria may retain their designation by submitting a renewal application and CEUs.

Why Centralize Certification?

The centralization concept is not new to the National Certification Board. As a prior National Certification Board member, I suggested this process a number of years ago. However, NRPA rejected the idea due to the amount of staff time and resources that were necessary to implement a centralized program.

Why suggest a centralized program? The current National Certification Plan is the only professional certification plan divided by states and not centralized in one location. Conceptually, all professional national certification plans should be centralized; that is good association management.

However, effective business, marketing and implementation plans are necessary to make this centralization effective, professional and creditable. My anticipation and hope is that these items will occur for the good of the park and recreation profession and the current certified professionals.

Concerns for Illinois Professionals

One of my major concerns, of which there were many, is for our students. Allowing students to sit for the CPRP exam before their internship experience reduces the credibility of the program and could potentially set a student up for failure. I am sure there will be students who do well on the exam. But my concern is for those who do not. How will they perceive the future of their chosen career?

I fear for their mental well-being when taking a significant national certification exam before having the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a professional setting.

I believe students should wait to take the exam. They should get the on-site work experience that they vitally need and that is part of the NRPA job analysis. I don't feel someone should take the exam until he or she can work with a certified park and recreation professional who can mentor a student through the exam process. That is part of certified professionalism.

Action Being Taken

On June 1, 2008, the Illinois Park and Recreation Association staff, the Illinois Park and Recreation Education Association and the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board will turn over documents to the National Recreation and Park Association that have been approved for transfer by the IPRA/IPREA legal counsel. This will begin the centralization process of all certified professionals to one responsible organization; that being the National Recreation and Park Association.

All Illinois certified professionals, including those who renew in 2009, will be transferred to the National Recreation and Park Association soon after renewal on June 1, 2008. It is imperative that all certified professionals have their continuing education unit documents organized and ready to be sent to IPRA in a timely manner. This will ensure a clean and professional transition from Illinois to NRPA.

We have no choice but to transfer the Illinois Certification Plan to NRPA. NRPA controls the Illinois plan and IPREA/IPRA is only the administrator of the plan; not the owner of the plan. Our commitment is to ensure that this transfer and centralization process is done in an orderly fashion. That commitment is to the certified professional in Illinois; and we take that commitment very seriously.

Our Commitment to You

The commitment to certification in Illinois is strong. We have more certified professionals than any other state in the nation. We have raised the standards within the Illinois plan. We are disappointed that NRPA has changed the National Certification Plan.

However, in an effort to support a legitimate and credible professional certification program, we will continue to monitor the centralization and transfer of the plan until the completion of the process in 2010. Our commitment is to ensure the success of the park and recreation field and make sure our National Certification Plan is not compromised in any way, shape or form. Were we to do any less, we would be failing to do our jobs or act on our commitment to you.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please feel free to contact me at bill@ILipra.org.

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