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Apply for Certified Park Professional (CPP) program

The World Parks Academy sets an international standard for park professionals through the Certified Park Professional (CPP) certification. This certification can be achieved in two ways: one in which a national certifying body exists and one in which one does not.

If an individual has a relevant and at least equivalent certification from a national, state, or international association’s certification program, operating in his or her country, that certification can be recognized through a letter of articulation, and the CPP status will be awarded to the certified professionals.

If an individual has no national, state, or international association offering professional certification, he or she may apply directly to the World Parks Academy for CPP status.

Certified Park Professional – France (CPP-F) variant:

The World Parks Academy in partnership with Hortis, France has developed a national variant for the Certified Park Professional certificate. This agreement sets an international standard for similar partnerships with other countries seeking to provide a national variant of the CPP.

Certified Parks Professional – South Africa (CPP-SA) variant:

The World Parks Academy in partnership with the Institute for Environment and Recreation Management (IERM at https://www.ierm.org.za) in South Africa has developed a national variant for the Certified Park Professional certificate. This agreement sets an international standard for professionals in South Africa and is managed by IERM under MOU with the World Park Academy.

Certified Parks Professional – Mexico (CPP-M) variant:

The Asociación Nacional de Parques y Recreación de México (ANPR México) has entered into a MOU to provide certification under licensure with Indiana University for the CPP-M. Eppley materials and training content is adapted under this MOU for Latin America by ANPR who offers the CPP-M under license for World Parks Academy. For additional information see https://anpr.org.mx/nosotros.

CPP Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria must be met in order to receive Certified Park Professional (CPP),  Certified Park Professional – France (CPP-F), or Certified Parks Professional – South Africa (CPP-SA) status:

Certified Park Professional (CPP) program:

1. Current World Urban Parks membership status*
  *if not currently a member of WUP, then one year of complimentary membership will be provided

-AND-

2a. University degree.

-AND-

2b. Two years of park work experience providing competency in at least three of the CPP competencies.

-OR-

3. Five years of senior-level park management experience providing competency in at least four of the CPP competencies.

-OR-

4. Five years of park management experience and completion of training as approved by the World Parks Academy Board of Regents that sufficiently meets at least five CPP competencies.

Certified Park Professional – France (CPP-F) variant:

1. Current Hortis membership status and attendance at a national or regional conference in the last 4 years.

-AND-

2a. University degree.

-AND-

2b. Two years of park work experience providing competency in at least three of the CPP competencies.

-OR-

3. Five years of senior-level park management experience providing competency in at least four of the CPP competencies.

-OR-

4. Five years of park management experience and completion of training as approved by the World Parks Academy Board of Regents that sufficiently meets at least five CPP competencies.

Certified Parks Professional – South Africa (CPP-SA) variant:

Gain more information at https://www.ierm.org.za/international-designations.

1. Current IERM membership status.

-AND-

2a. A university degree, and two years of park work experience providing competency in at least three of the CPP competencies.

-OR-

2b. Five years of senior-level park management experience providing competency in at least four of the CPP competencies.

-OR-

2c. Five years of park management experience and completion of training as approved by the World Parks Academy Board of Regents that sufficiently meets at least five CPP competencies.

-AND-

3. A completed CPP application at https://worldparksacademy.org/apply/cpp.

CPP Application Procedures

Applicants are required to apply for Certified Park Professional status unless they are associated with an organization that has entered into a letter of articulation with the World Parks Academy. Those who are not associated with an organization must meet the eligibility requirements and then:

  1. Complete CPP application
  2. Pay application fee
  3. Complete competency self-assessment

CPP Competency Framework

The World Parks Academy Park Management Competencies are reflected in multicultural contexts. These competencies will always be foundational and are universal in park management. The best practices and processes that implement the principles may differ, based upon the location, political context, and processes associated with that country or area. Park Management Competencies represent the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs).

1.0Asset Management:KSAs needed to manage facilities, maintained landscapes, utilities, fleet, and other physical resources for the Total Cost of Operation over the lifecycle of agency or organization’s assets.
2.0Landscape and Amenity Horticulture:KSAs required to understand the science and technology of man-made greenspace.
3.0Operations and Maintenance:KSAs required to ensure operation and maintenance of all facilities, maintained landscapes, utilities, fleet, and other physical resources are safe, operable, ready for use, and available to the public when required.
4.0Project Management:KSAs focusing on coordination of physical resources construction, long-range planning (including capital improvement planning), and other activities that have specific starting and ending dates, budgets, goals and objectives, and project teams.
5.0Resource Management:KSAs that ensure that agency/organization’s natural and cultural resources are stewarded, managed, and protected to meet their specified purpose(s) in a sustainable method that benefits the public.
6.0Business Acumen:KSAs that frame the management of fiscal resources for increased effectiveness, efficiency, accountability, and innovation within the operations of the agency/organization.
7.0Supervision:KSAs needed to manage and monitor subordinate performance, recruit employees effectively, and provide for subordinate development and training with the overall goal of improving agency/organization delivery of services.
8.0Interpretation and Education:KSAs focusing on the delivery and management of interpretation and education to the agency/organization stakeholders through various programs including, but not limited to, signage, displays, media, personal interpretive services, and other programs.
9.0Public Health:KSAs required for implementing public health impact analysis, programs, and associated communications solely within the agency/organization, or as part of a collaborative effort with partners, in order to reinforce healthy people/healthy parks linkage.
10.0Leadership:
KSAs framing the mastery of individual leadership approaches, leading groups and teams, and systems leadership that are required for overall mission fulfillment of an agency/organization.
11.0Recreation:KSAs focusing on managing recreation facilities, programs, and events that focus on programming and promotion.

» Learn more about CPP Competencies

CPP Re-certification

The Certified Park Professional (CPP) certification is valid for three years from its issuance. In the three-year span, Certified Park Professionals must meet the following two criteria:

  1. Maintain World Urban Parks membership status
  2. Complete 30 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

To achieve 30 hours, please refer to the WPA Renewal Guidelines to determine how your work and accomplishments may count toward CPD hours.

Download the complete re-certification application to record your CPD hours.

All applicants seeking renewal must:

  1. Submit an educational and professional portfolio (including dates, times, and names of trainings attended)
  2. Submit a completed application and pay the applicable fee:
    • Contact eplyhelp@iu.edu to begin CPP re-certification. Please use subject line “Re-certification for Certified Park Professional (CPP) program”, and also include the following information in your email:
      • Your full name
      • Your email address
      • Your full street address, including postal code and country
      • Your organization
    • Please wait for an email with instructions on how to complete your re-certification.
    • Contact eplyhelp@iu.edu to make payment arrangements for your re-certification application. The CPP re-certification fee is $65.00 USD.

CPP Register

Sorted by country (8)

AUSTRALIA [CPLP]:

  • Neal Ames
  • Mark Band
  • Shane Bisseker
  • Christopher Brown
  • Mark Corea
  • Sophia Czarkowski
  • Hugh Gardner
  • Clare Johnston
  • Kevin Lowe
  • Andrew Smith
  • Wayne Stuart
  • Ben Thomas
  • Rachel Thorpe
  • Angela Wright

CANADA:

  • Adam Esch
  • Trevor Poth
  • Scott Virgin
  • Chris Ziemski

FRANCE [CPP-F]:

  • Gregory Aymond
  • Pascal Debieu
  • Stephane Delavallade
  • Eve Duval
  • Elisabeth Fournier
  • Pascal Goubier
  • Patrick Lafforgue
  • Cecile Lorillou
  • Roland-Marie Marceron
  • Jean-Marie Rey
  • Jean-Marie Rogel

IRELAND:

  • Mark Finnegan

MEXICO:

  • German Enriquez

NORWAY:

  • Hilde Blokkum
  • Felicitas Heimann
  • Aina Hovden Lunde

SOUTH AFRICA [SA-CPP]:

  • Trevor Emmanuel Maphorogo
  • Bishop Ngobeli
  • Trevor Wright

USA:

  • Shawn Fertitta
  • Robin Grimwade
  • Austin Hochstetler
  • Ross Hoover
  • Kostas Stavrianakis

Sorted by name (42)

  • Neal Ames (CPLP) Australia
  • Gregory Aymond (CPP-F) France
  • Mark Band (CPLP) Australia
  • Shane Bisseker (CPLP) Australia
  • Hilde Blokkum (CPP) Norway
  • Christopher Brown (CPLP) Australia
  • Mark Corea (CPLP) Australia
  • Sophia Czarkowski (CPLP) Australia
  • Pascal Debieu (CPP-F) France
  • Stephane Delavallade (CPP-F) France
  • Eve Duval (CPP-F) France
  • German Enriquez (CPP) Mexico
  • Adam Esch (CPP) Canada
  • Shawn Fertitta (CPP) USA
  • Mark Finnegan (CPP) Ireland
  • Elisabeth Fournier (CPP-F) France
  • Hugh Gardner (CPLP) Australia
  • Pascal Goubier (CPP-F) France
  • Robin Grimwade (CPP) USA
  • Felicitas Heimann (CPP) Norway
  • Austin Hochstetler (CPP) USA
  • Ross Hoover (CPP) USA
  • Clare Johnston (CPLP) Australia
  • Patrick Lafforgue (CPP-F) France
  • Cecile Lorillou (CPP-F) France
  • Kevin Lowe (CPLP) Australia
  • Aina Hovden Lunde (CPP) Norway
  • Emmanuel Maphorogo (SA-CPP) South Africa
  • Roland-Marie Marceron (CPP-F) France
  • Bishop Ngobeli (SA-CPP) South Africa
  • Trevor Poth (CPP) Canada
  • Jean-Marie Rey (CPP-F) France
  • Jean-Marie Rogel (CPP-F) France
  • Andrew Smith (CPLP) Australia
  • Kostas Stavrianakis (CPP) USA
  • Wayne Stuart (CPLP) Australia
  • Ben Thomas (CPLP) Australia
  • Rachel Thorpe (CPLP) Australia
  • Scott Virgin (CPP) Canada
  • Angela Wright (CPLP) Australia
  • Trevor Wright (CPP) South Africa
  • Chris Ziemski (CPP) Canada

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