The Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) Course and Exam, hosted by the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association and sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date training program on playground safety issues including hazard identification, equipment specifications, surfacing requirements and risk management methods.
The course requires advanced reading and 15 hours of training that will prepare you to take the Certified Playground Safety Inspector Exam at the culmination of the certification course. Certification, with passage of the exam, is valid for three years.
Participants will receive:
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ASTM F1487 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications of Playgrounds for Public Use
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety
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1.5 Continuing Education Units through NRPA
A candidate who has a disability may request special accommodations; the request must be submitted in writing at the time of course or exam registration. The request form is available online at www.nrpa.org/cpsi. In order to properly accommodate all persons with disabilities, requests should be made 45 days prior to the scheduled date for the course and exam.
The Playground Safety Standards and CPSI examination are available in Latin American Spanish for those interested. Please request this option through the course host at the time of registration.
English as second language (ESL) candidates may request a time extension and/or the use of a strict translation dictionary. Request forms/fees must be submitted to NRPA no less than 30 days prior to the exam. The request form is available online at www.nrpa.org/cpsi.
The option to take the CPSI exam via computer-based testing is available through the NRPA. To obtain additional information please visit www.nrpa.org/cpsi. Please be advised if you register to take the examination with the course, you will not receive a refund to take your exam via computer-based testing later. Please decide now if you would like to take the exam on Day 3 of the course or via a computer-based exam later.
Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026
Course Schedule:
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
7:30-8:00AM Registration Begins
8:00AM Day 1 Begins
SECTION ONE Introduction
SECTION TWO Playground Protective Surfacing
SECTION THREE Use Zones
12:00PM Lunch (45 min)
SECTION FOUR Hazard ID Part 1- General Hazards
SECTION FIVE Hazard ID Part 2 - Entrapment & Entanglement
VIDEO Safety Test Panel
SECTION SIX Exam Prep & Table of Dimensions Homework
5:00PM Day 1 Complete
Thursday, April 23, 2026 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
8:00AM Day 2 Begins
REVIEW Table of Dimensions Homework
SECTION SEVEN Hazard ID Part 3 – Access/Egress & Equipment
SECTION EIGHT Hazard ID Part 4 – Equipment
SECTION NINE Hazard ID Part 5 – Equipment
12:00PM Lunch (45 min)
EXERCISE Small Group Risk Reduction Exercise
SECTION TEN Risk Management
EXERCISE Pre-Construction Site Plan Review
VIDEO Site Investigation
PRACTICE EXAM
5:00PM Day 2 Complete
Friday, April 24, 2026
8:00-9:00AM Exam Check-in (Exam starts promptly at 9AM.
Candidates will not be allowed in after that time.
9:00-11:30AM Exam Instructions/Two-hour certification examination
* The option to take the CPSI exam via computer-based testing is available through the NRPA. To obtain additional information please visit www.nrpa.org/cpsi. Please be advised if you register to take the examination with the course, you will not receive a refund to take your exam via computer-based testing at a later date. Please decide now if you would like to take the exam on Day 3 of the course or via a computer-based exam at a later date.
Location:
Township of Hamilton (Mercer County)
Nottingham Fire Co.
200 Mercer St., Hamilton, NJ 08690
Hotels:
Hilton Garden Inn, 800 US-130, Hamilton, NJ 08690, (609) 585-6789
Courtyard Hamilton, 530 US-130, Hamilton, NJ 08690, (609) 581-1880
Homewood Suites, 960 US-130, Hamilton, NJ 08690, (609) 689-1260
Cancellation and Transfer Policy:
No refunds will be made once text resource materials have been shipped. If you do not cancel by March 31, 2026 or do not attend you are responsible for the full payment.
Participants registering after March 27, 2026 must pay an additional fee for the overnight shipping of resource materials of $35.
If it is past the cancellation date registrants may transfer to a later CPSI Course and Exam hosted in New Jersey. A $135.00 transfer fee shall apply.
Sponsored by:
Ben Shaffer Recreation/Burke and General Recreation, Inc.
