CPRP study plan
CPRP · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Operations
Distinguish the governance models and agency types that deliver park and recreation services
Diagram the chain from board-approved policy to written procedure to daily operational practice
Identify the components of a risk management plan, including waiver, inspection, and incident-reporting elements
List the operational records an agency must retain and the retention logic behind each
Your checkpoint
One-page operations map linking governance model to policy to procedure, with 15 key terms defined in your own words and 5 sample operational policies sketched.
Finance and Budgeting
Sequence the full budget cycle from forecast through adoption, monitoring, and close-out
Classify at least 8 revenue sources as tax-supported, subsidized, or enterprise and justify each
Calculate cost recovery percentages for three program tiers using a provided-style fee and cost dataset you construct
Compare line-item, program, and zero-based budget formats on flexibility, transparency, and staff effort
Your checkpoint
A self-built budget workbook containing one operating budget with 12 line items, three revenue scenarios, and cost recovery computed for three tiers.
Facility and Land Planning, Design, and Maintenance
Order the steps of a park master planning process and state the public input method used at each step
Compare land acquisition methods, including purchase, easement, dedication, and lease, on cost and control
Trace a capital project from needs assessment through design, bidding, construction, and close-out
Outline the elements of a preventive maintenance management system, including inventory, work orders, and scheduling
Your checkpoint
A master plan outline for a hypothetical 40-acre site covering site inventory, needs findings, three concept alternatives, and a 12-month preventive maintenance calendar.
Programming
Convert a community needs assessment into three ranked program priorities with supporting rationale
Write measurable objectives for two programs using audience, behavior, condition, and degree
Price one program using direct cost, indirect cost, and subsidy target inputs
Design an evaluation method that matches each stated objective to a data source
Your checkpoint
A complete program plan for one new program containing needs evidence, objectives, budget, staffing needs, marketing approach, and an evaluation matrix.
Human Resources
Build a job analysis that produces duties, qualifications, and performance standards for one position
Sequence recruitment, screening, onboarding, and evaluation activities on one timeline
Differentiate corrective action from progressive discipline and match each to a sample scenario
Draft a volunteer management flow covering recruitment, screening, training, retention, and recognition
Your checkpoint
A department staffing plan with an organizational chart and six position descriptions, each including performance standards and one interview question tied to a duty.
Operations & Finance and Budgeting
Re-test operations and finance content by answering 60 mixed practice items and logging every miss by topic
Recompute cost recovery and a budget variance analysis from scratch without notes
Diagnose your three weakest sub-topics in these domains and write a one-paragraph fix for each
Explain aloud how an operational decision (staffing, hours, or fees) changes the budget
Your checkpoint
A scored 60-item practice set with an error log sorted by sub-topic and a written remediation note for each of your three weakest areas.
Programming & Human Resources & Facility and Land Planning, Design, and Maintenance
Answer 60 mixed practice items across programming, human resources, and facility planning and log misses by topic
Link one program plan to its facility needs and its staffing needs in a single written narrative
Calculate the staffing hours and facility hours required to run one full program session
Identify the three most commonly confused term pairs in these domains and write a distinguishing definition for each
Your checkpoint
A one-page integration narrative connecting one program to its facility and staffing requirements, plus a 60-item error log and three term-pair definitions.
Operations & Programming & Human Resources & Finance and Budgeting & Facility and Land Planning, Design, and Maintenance
Complete two timed full-length practice exams under test-day conditions
Review every missed item and categorize each error as content gap, misread, or guess
Drill your five lowest-scoring sub-topics until you can explain each without notes
Write your test-day plan covering timing, flagging strategy, and break use
Your checkpoint
Two scored full-length practice exams with a final error analysis showing your score trend and a one-page test-day strategy sheet.
Milestones
Week 2: You can draw the budget cycle and compute cost recovery for three tiers from memory without reference notes.
Week 4: You have produced four complete artifacts (operations map, budget workbook, master plan outline, program plan) and can state the key concept for each domain in one sentence.
Week 6: Your 60-item mixed practice score in Operations and Finance is at or above 70 percent and your error log lists no repeated sub-topic miss.
Week 8: Both timed full-length practice exams are complete, scores are documented, and every missed item has a categorized cause and a remediation note.