The deadline is June 1 for all individuals involved in the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and Associate Park and Recreation Professional (APRP) program through the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board (IPRCB) to recertify.

If you are to recertify June 1, 2008, you will utilize this form Recertification Form 2008 Renewal Date. If you were originally scheduled to recertify June 1, 2009, you will utilize this form Recertification Form 2009 Renewal Date.

In an attempt to standardize and centralize the program throughout the United States, the National Park and Recreation Association (NRPA) implemented some changes with the certification program for park and recreation professionals through the National Certification Board (NCB) that became effective January 1, 2008.

As a result of these changes, the Illinois Park and Recreation Certification Board (IPRCB) will be completing its final renewal process this year (utilizing a similar format to NRPA) and turning over the certification records and process of Illinois professionals to NRPA at the conclusion of this process. This way all professionals in the state of Illinois will have the opportunity to renew at this time and will have two years and three months to prepare for recertification through NRPA.

Below are some directions to follow for the process as there has been some confusion created with the changing of forms and this process of having all individuals recertify here in Illinois.

If your certification renewal date is May 31, 2008 – Your new renewal date will be August 31, 2010 – that renewal will be with NRPA.

1. Fill out the renewal application form. The second page of the form contains space for you to fill out conferences or seminars that you have attended. You must either fill out this area or attach documentation of attendance at functions where you have received 2.0 CEUs from June 1, 2006 – May 31, 2008.
2. 10% all of individuals will be audited so have your documentation prepared as you may be contacted to discuss the CEUs that you have earned. If you are unsure about CEUs earned, you can contact the IPRA office and speak with Polly McKee to discuss. It will be important for you to maintain this documentation in the future because you will need to present it for your 2010 renewal with NRPA.
3. Sign the application and attach a payment of $50 for renewal. This is so that you attest that you have received these CEUs and you give us permission to forward your contact information and copy of your certificate to NRPA. You will receive a certificate.
4. PLEASE HOLD ON TO DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL SESSIONS THAT YOU ATTEND STARTING JUNE 1, 2008. We maintain copies of all CEU forms submitting through IPRA, so we can assist you with getting a copy of a form; however, you will need to tell us the name and date of the event so that we can retrieve that for you.

If your certification renewal date is May 31, 2009 – Your new renewal date will be August 31, 2010 – that renewal will be with NRPA.

1. Fill out the renewal application form. The second page of the form contains space for you to fill out conferences or seminars that you have attended. Please fill out your attendance where you have received CEUs from June 1, 2007 – May 31, 2008. You are to be making progress towards 1.0 CEUs. You do not have to obtain 1.0 - you have to be making progress towards 1.0.
2. If you are unsure about CEUs earned, you can contact the IPRA office and speak with Mike Selep to discuss. It will be important for you to maintain this documentation in the future because you will need to present it for your 2010 renewal with NRPA.
3. Sign the application and attach a payment of $25 for renewal. This is so that you attest that you have received these CEUs and you give us permission to forward your contact information and copy of your certificate to NRPA. You will receive a certificate.
4. PLEASE HOLD ON TO DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL SESSIONS THAT YOU ATTEND STARTING JUNE 1, 2008. We maintain copies of all CEU forms submitting through IPRA, so we can assist you with getting a copy of a form; however, you will need to tell us the name and date of the event so that we can retrieve that for you.

If you still need CEUs, there are several options. The newest option allows you to read current articles regarding parks and recreation and share the information that you have learned from those articles in order to receive CEUs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact IPRA’s Professional Services Director, Mike Selep.