1. Who will be impacted by this recertification policy change?
CPSIs with an expiration date of July 1, 2026, or later will be impacted. Please note: There is no flexibility with this launch date.
2. How will this process work?
- Individuals with a CPSI expiration date of July 1, 2026, or later will have the opportunity to submit a CPSI Recertification Application or complete the CPSI examination to recertify.
- The recertification application will require individuals to list all of the 2.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)/Professional Service Experience (PSE) credits they obtained during their 3-year certification cycle. <LINK FORM>
- The final step to the application process will be the submission of a recertifiction application fee of $95 for NRPA members and $125 for non-NRPA members.
- Following completion of the application, individuals may be selected for audit. During this process, they will be required to submit documentation to prove they completed all required CEUs for the recertification application.
3. When will the recertification application be made available?
Online applications will be available in early 2026.
4. How do I obtain my CEUs? Are there specific requirements on the type of CEUs I can apply toward my recertification?
The national Certification Board will recognize any documented CEUs in playground and safety that fall within the following two core competency groups (Groups a and B, outlined below) and individuals must have a minimum of 1.0 CEU from each group.
- Group A - Hazard ID, Risk Management
- Group B - Surfacing, Playground Environment, Audit, Inspection & Maintenance
For a course to qualify for CPSI CEUs, the course must:
- Be taught by a Playground Maintenance, Risk and/or Safety Subject Matter Expert (SME) within at least one of the core competency groups listed above,
- Have identified three clear learning objectives within at least one of the core competency groups listed above,
- Have a description to support the learning objectives and
- Assign 0.1 CEU to one hour of continuing education
5. Does the Certified Playground Safety Inspector course qualify for CEUs?
Yes! The CPSI Course provides .8 CEU for Group A and .7 CEU for Group B. Additionally, CEUs may be earned at national or state conferences or regional trainings/workshops, including the Playground Maintenance Course.
6. Are there additional ways to abtain credit to be applied toward my CPSI recertification application CEU requirement?
Qualifying professional service experience (PSE) credit may be accepted in lieu of CEUs for up to 1.0 CEU equivalents in Group A and/or Group B. Applicants must submit a PSE form with supporting documentation. If applying PSE credit to a recertification application, any remaining CEUs will need to meet the group requirements. <Link PSE form>
7. What if a course I take does not offer CEUs?
You may submit a CEU petition form to receive credit for the course work. <Link CEU Petition>
8. What will the recertification application cost?
- Indviduals will pay education hosts as they accumulate CEUs.
- The recertification application cost is separate. It will be $95 for NRPA Members and $125 for non-NRPA Members.
9. Is there a grace period available after the certification cycle expires?
No, all CEUs must be achieved during your three-year certification cycle and submission of completed recertification application must occur prior to expiration date; please allow time for processing of applications to avoid a lapse in your certification.
10. Do I need to submit all my CEU documentation with my recertification application?
No, CEU documentation submission will only occur if your application is selected for audit. Please keep all CEU documentation; if you are audited, you must submit all documentation to support your recertification application.
11. Can I still take the examination to recertify?
Yes, there will be two options for recertification for individuals with an expiration date of July 1, 2026, or later. You may recertify by successfully completing the CPSI Examination or submission of a completed recertification application.
12. What happens if my recertification expires before I submit a CEU Recertification Application?
If your certification expires before submission of the CEU recertification application, you will be required to successfully complete the examination again to become certified.
13. How do I determine what my certification cycle/expiration date is?
There are a few ways you may access your certification cycle/expiration date. Those include reviewing your CPSI Certificate (date certified through expiration date = certification cycle), logging in to your NRPA profile at nrpa.org to view a digital copy of your certificate, or you can find your expiration date only on the CPSI registry at https://www.nrpa.org/certification/CPSI/cpsi-online-registry/
