CPSI study guide
CPSI · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Certification is a professional credential offered through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for people who assess and help maintain safe play environments. It appears in NRPA's certification lineup alongside the CPRP, CPRE, and AFO credentials, and NRPA maintains dedicated CPSI resources including a "Become a CPSI" path, a CPSI Course Calendar, renewal information, an instructor pathway, a host-a-course option, prep materials, a CPSI Registry, a recertification policy, and FAQs. The CPSI study guide has 5 sections and about 1,532 words.
01Injury Prevention and Hazard Identification
Injury prevention on the playground rests on a simple chain: identify the hazard, judge the risk it creates, and control it before a child is exposed. Candidates should be comfortable with the difference between a hazard (a condition with potential to cause harm, such as a protruding bolt) and a risk (the likelihood and severity of harm given exposure).
326 words, about 2 min02Playground Standards and Guidelines
Playground standards are voluntary consensus documents that define minimum safety expectations for equipment, surfacing, and use zones. Candidates should understand the structure of the main families of standards: one set addresses equipment and layout (general guidelines covering access, use zones, entrapment, and fall protection), another addresses surfacing (impact attenuation and critical fall height testing), and a third covers inspection and maintenance practice.
304 words, about 2 min03Playground Design and Layout
Good layout separates circulation from play, groups equipment by developmental level, and preserves clear use zones around every structure. The use zone is the area under and around equipment where a falling child might land; it must be free of obstacles, other equipment, and hard landscaping, and it must be surfaced appropriately.
310 words, about 2 min04Playground Equipment and Surfacing
Equipment safety turns on fall height , entrapment , entanglement , and sharp or protruding hazards . Know that fall height is measured from the highest designated play surface, not the top of a guardrail or the peak of a roof.
305 words, about 2 min05Playground Inspection and Maintenance
Inspection is a cycle, not an event. Candidates should distinguish routine inspections (frequent visual checks for obvious hazards like broken glass, litter, or displaced surfacing), periodic inspections (more detailed checks of fasteners, wear, and surfacing depth), and annual or comprehensive inspections (thorough assessment against the applicable standard, often by a certified inspector).
287 words, about 1 min