The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course, is a 15-hour comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods, offered by the National Recreation and Park Association. Attendees have the option to sit for the Certified Playground Safety Inspector exam scheduled at the culmination of the certification course. CPSI promotes children's rights to play and promotes nationally the importance play has in a child's development, CPSI provides the most current comprehensive training program on public playground safety anywhere, CPSI provides input to help develop responsible public policy for the guaranteed safety of our children while at the same time advocating sound fiscal responsibility to provide resources for the on-going maintenance and support of the policy.Click here for more details on this NRPA training program.
Vermont first hosted a CPSI course in 2002 as a result of the work of the Vermont Playground Advisory Committee, which was established by the Department of SRS in response to concerns about playground safety in Vermont. Representatives from the Department of Education; Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; Department of Health; Vermont Recreation and Parks Association; child care centers and insurance providers worked together to host the first training. After 85 people attended the course, the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association made a commitment to host the training every three years so that people can re-certify right here in Vermont.
VRPA hosted a CPSI course in Vermont in 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2011. Our next CPSI course will be offered in the spring of 2014. If you would like to take the course before then, check with one of the other New England state recreration associations.
