Professor Syd Sklar of the University of St. Francis and IPRA Professional Services Director Mike Selep discussed the topics of professionism and certification with 13 seniors at the University of St. Francis on Wednesday.
“The students really seemed to enjoy going over the sample questions and participating in the group celebrations (physical and musical challenges) after we discussed the correct answers,” said Mike Selep. “The highlight had to be when Professor Sklar did not select the correct answer to the hardest question given. The class had the opportunity to pick the challenge for Sklar. It was singing ‘Sexy Back’ by Justin Timberlake. It wasn’t pretty. I’m glad that Syd is a Professor and not an American Idol contestant.”
In just a few short months those graduating with a degree in parks and recreation from St. Francis may apply to take the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) Exam. So will graduates from the other NRPA accredited universities - University of Illinois, Illinois State, Southern, Eastern, Western and Chicago State Universities.
With education, experience and examination, those working in the field of parks and recreation are able to effectively demonstrate that they have an understanding of the core competencies of the park and recreation profession. Certification is one of the cornerstones of building the reputation of the profession. It demonstrates that professionals understand a core body of knowledge and personally commit to continue learning and growing as a professional to help their communities grow.
Should MIKE be on American Idol????????LOL
OK, I have to open my big mouth with my opinion.
Folks, colleagues and friends, certification has been around for give or take 20 years. I have watched it all that time. I have worked with and near literally 100’s of people with and without certification during that time.
Can any of us honestly say that certification has made a difference? Can we honestly believe– because I know we have no data or facts to prove– that certification is “one of the cornerstones of building the reputation of the profession”?
Certification was as wonderful idea with admirable intentions and it has been one helluva good effort to make it work. But, it is time to admit that it does not and has not produced the results we all wanted and expected.
For certification to become really meaningful to our profession; for it to really and truly build the reputation of our profession, it is high time for us to revisit the method, criteria and systems for certifying professionals.
Thanks to anyone who bothered to read this and thank you for not using any of those cornerstones to stone me! Yes, I expect to take some flak and so fire away. Debate and disagreement in a civil and professional environment certainly is a cornerstone, or at least an indicator of a healthy and viable profession.
By the way, I think Professor Sklar had to sing because to so many of the exam questions, there is no one, “right” answer.
Arnie Biondo,
Director, Carol Stream Park District
Arnie, you have some outstanding points. Thank you for taking the time to express them. Certification alone does not a professional make. Absolutely true!!! Most respected professions do have certification processes. It is hard to imagine going to a non-certified Doctor or a non-certified accountant. So this process is important to the recreation profession.
You are absolutely correct that the criteria for evaluation is central, and bolstering not deterriorating that criteria is extremely important. It takes education, experience and examination to make sure that a certification process is of value. The current exam for the CPRP certification is a baseline examination - only testing that an individual understands the core competencies. The individual is then expected to continue to educate themselves throughout their professional career. Certification is not the end. It is simply the beginning. Tougher standards on certification can only help improve the image of the profession and make it more valuable to the individual. You stated it so well Arnie!!! Thanks again for your comment.