Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Program

Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course is offered annually in the spring. This two-day course has a certification option on the third day. The testing results are emailed to participants from NRPA between 6-8 weeks after the exam.

CPSI Course & Exam
TBD March 2026

CPSI Training

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 200,000 children are treated annually for playground equipment- related injuries. Of these, 74 % (or 148,000) involve public playground equipment. Many of these accidents could have been prevented. 

National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) major initiative in raising playground safety awareness is the administration of the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) training and certification program. The CPSI course is designed to properly train individuals to recognize and prevent potential playground hazards.

Looking for a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, visit National Recreation and Park Association's registry: apps.nrpa.org/CPSI_Registry/

This registry allows you to access certification information on CPSIs with a current certification. If contact information is not provided the individual has elected not to be part of the registry. By checking the In Registry box you will be provided with a list of only individuals that have agreed to be contacted for potential third party employment.

Playground Maintenance Courses
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has developed an educational training focused on playground maintenance. The new Playground Maintenance Course is a one-day educational class that includes the following topics:

• an overview of playground safety standards and guidelines
• playground owner responsibilities
• maintenance discussions on playground equipment surfacing and site items

Participants will receive a manual during the class, and a certificate upon completion of the course. This class is different than the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course offered annually. This course may be viewed as a stand-alone playground safety opportunity with no certification, or as an introductory class to the CPSI course.