There is no denying the presence of professional certifications in today’s workplace. In fact, some scholars have suggested the number of certified professionals in the U.S. workplace to be well over 1 million and expanding at a rapid pace. The field of parks and recreation is no different as professional certifications, ranging from certifications that are broader in nature to those that are specialized in a particular area, have been present for years. Some of the more common specialized certifications in parks and recreation include personal training, youth sports coaching and/or officiating, pesticide application, turf and grounds management, Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) and Aquatics Facility Operator (AFO). Referred to as specialist certifications, these credentialing programs seek to expand a professional’s knowledge in a particular area or aspect of the job.
In contrast to specialist certifications, generalist certifications encompass a variety of tasks related to the park and recreation profession in general, and the job title in particular. Within the field of parks and recreation, the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is arguably the most recognizable generalist certification. While other generalist certifications for parks and recreation exist, the CPRP continues to be one of the most sought after certifications. Emily Tipping in Recreation Management’s 2012 annual “State of the Managed Recreation Industry” article consistently identifies the CPRP as one of the most desired certifications by recreation professionals.
Despite their presence and growth, certifications often mean different things to different people. For example, consider the facility manager who is a firm believer in the “school of hard knocks” that includes on-the-job training and self-guided learning experiences in lieu of traditional education or certification(s) obtained through a formal credentialing process. Or, the recreation director who questions the worth of a panel of subject-matter experts (SMEs) involved in the content development and methodologies for certification examinations.
In contrast to these views, advocates of professional certifications would contend that they offer multiple benefits by enhancing recognition and lifelong learning among professionals in the field. In spite of these varied views, few professionals would suggest that certifications are entirely rubbish. Rather, these varied views speak to the subjective nature of “value” as it is likely that each professional has his or her own views on the value of certifications as it is compared to other factors (i.e., work experience, on-the-job training, dispositional behaviors, etc.). These sentiments suggest the need for a more systematic investigation of the role of certifications in the park and recreation profession.
Along this line, the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration recently released a study, “Professional Certifications and Job Self-Efficacy of Public Park and Recreation Professionals,” that examines the possible links between CPRP certification, several specialist certifications, and perceptions of job performance capabilities among public park and recreation professionals. In completing the investigation, data was collected from 347 public park and recreation professionals and the results yielded three major findings:
Finding 1: There was a positive and significant link found between the CPRP credential and job performance capabilities. Specifically, CPRP professionals were found to possess significantly higher perceptions of their job performance capabilities compared to non-CPRP professionals and even those with at least one specialist certification.
Finding 2: Challenging one of the study’s hypotheses, a neutral effect was found with specialist certifications. More specifically, professionals with specialist certifications did not have significantly higher perceptions of their job performance capabilities compared to professionals without a certification.
Finding 3: An interaction was found between the CPRP certification and specialist certifications. In particular, professionals with both the CPRP certification and at least one specialist certification possessed significantly higher perceptions of their job performance capabilities compared to professionals without any certification. However, no significant differences were found between professionals who only possessed the CPRP and those who had the CPRP and at least one specialist certification.
Taken collectively, these findings highlight the positive contributions of the CPRP certification in today’s workplace. In addition to validating the individual’s proficiency and commitment to the profession, the findings suggest CPRP professionals have the potential to be more productive in their work compared to their non-CPRP colleagues. It also suggests a complementary effect in acquiring and maintaining both a generalist certification, such as the CPRP, and a specialist certification.
So, what do the findings from this study mean for parks and recreation? More specifically, what are its implications to the professional, the park and recreation agency, and the profession? In response to these questions, let us consider the role of the CPRP certification and its impact on the professional, agency and profession.
CPRP Certification For The Professional
The park and recreation field is rapidly evolving, and the challenge for the recreation professional is to stay ahead of these changes. The CPRP certification provides a formalized system for staying current with trends and issues in the field.
Invest in Something Valuable — You. Society has shifted from job security to employment security. Specifically, the tenure of a professional with one agency is decreasing as transfers from one agency to another are occurring at a higher frequency than in the past. As a result of this trend, the need for recognizable skills, knowledge and abilities has become increasingly important for the park and recreation professional as they navigate the employment field. The CPRP certification meets this need by providing evidence that a professional has a full complement of entry-level knowledge and what it takes to be a solid professional.
Career Kick-Starter. Securing that first, full-time job in any field can be a challenge. An effort to distinguish their application from the rest of the pool is a “must” for these new job seekers. The CPRP designation can aid in that process. Having that acronym behind their name provides another credential, demonstrates a standards competency level, highlights the applicant’s commitment to the profession and adds a recognizable brand name to their résumé. While employers may or may not recognize the applicant’s name, the hiring agency will likely recognize the “CPRP brand” which can help distinguish the applicant.
Career Advancement. The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration study found CPRP-certified professionals possessed more advanced perceptions of job performance capabilities compared to their non-CPRP colleagues. These findings suggest that the knowledge and skills obtained through the certification process could lead to higher job performance. In turn, this higher performance could result in more promotional and/or leadership opportunities.
Help Me, Help You. For those CPRP professionals with longer tenure in the field, the credential can represent an element in the mentorship of early-career professionals. In addition to the study’s findings mentioned above, anecdotal support for the CPRP certification is regularly shared by current CPRP-certified professionals. These professionals often share stories of the enhanced growth, recognition, networking opportunities and employment marketability provided by the CPRP and its ongoing professional development requirements. Sharing these experiences and CPRP certification advice in the mentorship of early-career professionals can help them make a successful transition to the field.
Image Is Everything. While the old ad slogan, “Image Is Everything” is not entirely accurate in this situation, how constituents view their recreation professional is important. Certifications, such as the CPRP, not only demonstrate a commitment to the field, but they also can provide a symbol of competence to those they serve.
Get Paid to Learn. Many agencies invest a level of resource support for their staff to attend professional development programs to maintain their certification. Premised on the view that the professional development experiences will aid staff in the development of new knowledge or skills, agencies regularly provide financial support for their employees’ professional development. Certification programs, such as the CPRP, require ongoing professional development and provide further justification (to the agency) of the need for and value of professional development opportunities for staff.
CPRP Certification for the Park and Recreation Agency
The promotion of the CPRP certification should start at the top of the agency. The recognition and encouragement of certification programs, such as the CPRP, by the agency sends a clear message to staff about the importance and value of these credentialing programs. A common practice in the promotion of certification programs involves management developing a formal statement acknowledging the importance of certifications and professional development among staff and how these programs can assist the agency in successfully achieving its mission.
Improved Agency Performance. According to the study’s findings and previous certification research, it is likely that park and recreation agencies employing CPRP-certified professionals will demonstrate better performance. In turn, this individual-level performance will translate into a higher performing agency. In a related vein, agencies may wish to integrate CPRP certification requirements within the job description and employee recruitment and selection processes.
Promoting Growth Culture. Certifications demonstrate the commitment of park and recreation agencies to provide high-quality services and ongoing professional development for their staff. In fostering this culture of professional growth, resource investments by the agency are needed. Specifically, resource support to assist staff with their certification exams, allow for attendance at relevant workshops and training sessions and/or provide salary increases for employees as they obtain certifications is encouraged.
CPRP Certification for the Profession
Increased Legitimacy. An important aspect of a profession is a recognized body of knowledge that guides best practices in the field. The CPRP meets this need by establishing a baseline necessary for certifying the knowledge and skills of the profession. It creates a recognizable and legitimate standard that ensures the profession (and professional) are current with the literature and trends in the field.
Codified Body of Knowledge. The CPRP certification process also requires the codification of a body of knowledge. Through systematic analyses, the job domains and corresponding tasks are identified and coded based on their significance for the entry-level professional. This codification process serves as a framework for professional growth of practitioners and provides guidance for the development or modification of academic curricula.
Summary
The CPRP certification has a deep history in the field and serves as a demonstration of a mastery of the body of knowledge required by the entry-level recreation professional. The recent study by Mulvaney, Beggs, Elkins and Hurd in the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, provides further support for the CPRP’s impact in the workplace by identifying links to job performance capabilities of professionals.
In closing, exceptional leisure service delivery requires full participation from an exceptional staff. Park and recreation professionals must understand their constituents, their constituents’ interests, and how to best serve those interests. Whether it is a new employee or one with a long tenure, all employees are expected to have the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully do their jobs. Obtaining the CPRP certification is one way to demonstrate that exceptionality to your agency, constituents, the profession and to yourself!
Michael. A. Mulvaney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation Administration at Eastern Illinois University.