In-Person Course & Exam Information
All course registrants will be mailed a set of course material books: Course Manual & Field Guide and Playground Safety Is No Accident – 6th Edition on USB. These materials will be mailed via USPS about 3-4 weeks in advance of the course date to the address on file at the time of registration. It is recommended that course participants review these materials in full prior to participating in the course.
The course is administered over two consecutive days from 8 am - 5 pm, with check-in usually beginning by 7:15 am. Lunch is provided on both days of instruction close to noon.
The exam is conducted the following day from 9 am - 11:30 am with check-in beginning by 8 am. Exam-takers will have two hours to complete the exam & will be notified of their results via email about 6 weeks following the exam date.
Exam candidates must present a valid government-issued ID with photo and signature to be admitted to the exam. The information provided at the time of registration must match the name reflected on the ID. The exam candidate will also be required to sign a roster for verification of identity. Acceptable forms of ID with photo and signature include: a current driver's license, a current state identification card, a current passport, or a current military identification card. Employment ID cards, student ID cards, and any type of temporary identification are not acceptable.
Blended Learning (Virtual) Course & Exam Information
The "blended learning" environment will include 12 hours of pre-recorded online learning modules, a 4-hour virtual training course with a live instructor, and an exam proctored at a professional testing location. All course registrants will be mailed a set of course material books: Course Manual & Field Guide and Playground Safety Is No Accident – 6th Edition on USB. These materials will be mailed via USPS about 3-4 weeks in advance of the course date to the address on file at the time of registration. It is recommended that course participants review these materials in full prior to participating in the live course.
Part 1: Pre-Recorded Online Learning Modules
About 2 -3 weeks prior to your virtual course date, you will receive an email from NRPA granting access to the 12 hours of pre-recorded online learning modules, presented by CPSI expert trainers. This study-at-your-own-pace "prep course" will give you the basics to be prepared for the live virtual course. Please check spam/junk folders for this email.
Part 2: Live Instruction via Zoom
The 4-hour live instruction course will be conducted via Zoom on the date designated from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm (Pacific). No more than 45 students participate in each session to allow for maximum engagement among the students and instructor. 2 - 3 weeks prior to the virtual course date, you will receive an email from NRPA providing the information necessary to access the zoom session. Please check spam/junk folders for this email.
Part 3: CPSI Exam
NRPA will email you instructions to schedule your computer-based exam with a local PSI Test Center about 2 - 3 weeks before your virtual course date. Please check spam/junk folders for this email. You may not schedule your exam prior to receiving this email. Upon receipt, you may schedule your exam immediately, prior to completing the live instruction.
Results of computer-based exams will be available immediately following completion of the exam; there will be a 3 - 4 week delay between completion of the exam and notice of re/certification from NRPA. For more information about PSI Testing Centers, rescheduling exams, requesting accommodations, and other exam inquires, you can visit the NRPA website to access the CPSI Candidate Handbook.
Exam candidates must present a valid government-issued ID with photo and signature to be admitted to the exam. The information provided at the time of registration must match the name reflected on the ID. The exam candidate will also be required to sign a roster for verification of identity. Acceptable forms of ID with photo and signature include: a current driver's license, a current state identification card, a current passport, or a current military identification card. Employment ID cards, student ID cards, and any type of temporary identification are not acceptable.
Exam Only & Exam Retake Information
While the CPSI course is highly recommended for first-time candidates, it is not required prior to sitting for the CPSI exam.
In the event you take the exam and do not successfully pass, you are able to retake the exam. Initial exams and retakes are the same price.
Each CPSI course hosted by CPRS includes an option to register for the exam only. If you register for the exam only as part of an in-person session, the paper-based exam will occur at the date and time as described for that in-person session. If you register for the exam only as part of a virtual CPSI session, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule a computer-based exam at a local testing center. See part 3 of the Blended Learning section immediately above.
Certification
Candidates who successfully pass the exam will be considered a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) and will be added to the national registry. Re-certification is required every 3 years, expiring on the first of the month you successfully completed your prior exam. If you forget or lose track of your records, you can contact NRPA at certification@nrpa.org to verify the validity of your certification.
Recertification
At present, the only means of maintaining a CPSI certification, or recertifying, is to sit for and pass the CPSI exam. Anyone whose certification is due to expire on/following July 1, 2026, will have two options to recertify:
- Passing the CPSI exam (i.e., the current option), or
- Successfully completing 2.0 CEUs in playground safety during the three-year certification cycle and submitting a completed CEU Recertification Application.
NRPA has established an FAQ page dedicated to the new recertification option. The two-day CPSI course offers participants 1.5 CEUs (0.8 CEUs for Group A material and 0.7 CEUS for Group B material) and will continue to be available as is following July 1st.
Course Materials
Registration for the CPSI course includes the purchase of the course materials. Course materials include (A) "Certified Playground Safety Inspector: Course Manual (2022)" and (B) "Field Guide: Public Safety Standards and Guidelines (2022)." The Field Guide includes a USB of "Playground Safety is No Accident (Sixth Edition)."
Course materials are mailed via USPS priority mail to each course registrant approximately 4-6 weeks in advance of the CPSI course to the address on file at the time of registration. Once a shipment is initiated, the registrant will receive an automated email from "no-reply@pb.com" with a subject line of "A shipment from the California Park and Recreation Society is on its way" providing the USPS tracking number -- don't forget to check your spam/junk for this message.
If a registrant's course materials are returned to the CPRS HQ office in Sacramento, a CPRS team member will reach out to the registrant to discuss either resending the materials to an alternative mailing address (for a $20 fee) or issuing a refund for the cost of the materials (i.e., $125).
Expedited shipment of course materials may be requested at your own expense. Expedited shipping typically ranges from $25 - 50 depending on the delivery address. To expedite your shipment, please call CPRS HQ at (916) 665-2777 to either pay over the phone with a card or initiate an invoice.
Anyone may purchase a set of course materials from CPRS for $125 plus $20 for shipping. You may wish to purchase materials for a variety of reasons like studying for the exam without taking the course or updating the copies you keep on file in your office. To purchase a set of course materials a la carte, please call CPRS HQ at (916) 665-2777 to either pay over the phone with a card or initiate an invoice.