NRPA Online Learning: Equity In Practice Certificate Programs

NRPA Equity in Practice Certificate Program Series

What's Special about These Certificate Programs?
These Certificate Programs are designed specifically for Parks and Recreation professionals. Rather than talk about equity generally, we will always bring it back to our work in our field. We'll keep an eye on what is – as well as what could be.

These Certificate Programs are action-oriented. Everything we explore together will help you develop an Equity Action Plan for yourself or your agency.

Everyone in these Certificate Programs will have a different depth of understanding and practice in achieving equity. It doesn't matter. We all have much to learn – and much to contribute.

How to Participate
The NRPA Equity in Practice Certificate Program Series consists of three distinct certificate programs, to be completed in order, one at a time. Upon completion of each certificate level, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion as well as fulfilling a prerequisite to move on to the next certificate in the series.

Those who have successfully completed all three certificate programs will be awarded a NRPA Equity in Practice Digital Badge that can be added to email signatures, resumes, websites, and social media.

To begin the certificate program series, prospective learners must apply to enroll in Certificate 1. Cohorts are limited to 20 participants. Multiple cohorts of Certificate 1 are offered annually.

Read on below and learn more about each level, as well as how to apply for the program!

Certificate 1: Exploring Equity in Practice

Participants exchange perspectives on race equity in the field of Parks and Recreation. and generate ideas for creating greater equity. Each participant crafts a doable Equity Action Plan suited to their unique identity, role, and context.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY! Questions? Contact access@nrpa.org.

Learn more about Certificate 1

Structure and Focus of Certificate 1

Certificate 1 consists of 6 learning blocks over a 12-week period. Each learning block is 2 weeks in length and includes an interactive workshop during which you'll explore important concepts and skills for growing equity in the field of Parks and Recreation. A workbook will guide you through weekly self-guided learning tasks to advance your equity action plan between workshops. Check out the Learning Journey for Certificate 1 below.

Certificate 2: Pursuing Equity in Practice

Prerequisites: Completion of Certificate 1

Participants will support each other to practice a mindset and skillset essential to putting equity into practice effectively, over time. Participants will analyze best practices and exchange insights from embedding those practices into their workplace.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY! Questions? Contact us at access@nrpa.org.

Learn more about Certificate 2

This Equity in Practice Certificate Program is designed especially for individuals and teams in our Parks and Recreation community who have completed Certificate 1 (Exploring Racial Equity in Parks and Recreation) and have a strong foundation for taking concrete actions toward greater equity.

Certificate 2, Pursuing Racial Equity in Parks and Recreation, is a 12-week opportunity to elevate your thinking about equity and to build a strategic Equity Action Plan. This certificate offers a bit less new content - and a bit more time for dialogue with peers who, like you, are courageously and thoughtfully pursuing equity in their unique context.

This certificate also lays the groundwork for Certificate 3: Integrating Racial Equity in Parks and Recreation). In that final Certificate of the series, participants focus on a concrete initiative to increase equity in their agency, get feedback from leaders in the field, and prioritize ways to amplify attention to equity in their day-to-day work moving forward.

Structure and Focus of Certificate 2

As depicted in the graphic below, this program is structured similarly to Certificate 1. It employs a series of 6 "learning blocks", each two weeks in length. We will have one interactive, virtual workshop as the centerpiece of each learning block. A workbook will guide you through activities to advance your strategic plan between workshops.

Check out the Learning Journey for Certificate 2, below.

Certificate 3: Integrating Equity in Practice

Prerequisites: Completion of Certificates 1 and 2

Participants focus on a concrete initiative to increase equity in their agency or the field at large, get feedback from leaders in the field, and prioritize ways to amplify attention to equity in their day-to-day work moving forward.

The first cohort of Certificate 3 is scheduled to begin in late 2025.

Want to be the first to know when applications open? Add your name to our Cert 3 information list! CLICK HERE to add your name to the Cert 3 information list!

Questions? Contact us at access@nrpa.org.

Learn more about Certificate 3

This is the final Certificate of NRPA’s Equity in Practice series. Certificate 3 is designed for Parks & Recreation Professionals who have completed Certificates 1 and 2 – and are keen to invest in equity projects that will really move the needle on greater equity in your agency or area. The Certificate will help you to see ways you are already serving as an equity leader – and will give you ideas for how you can strengthen your leadership moving forward.

In this final Certificate of the series, participants focus on a concrete initiative to increase equity in their agency, get feedback from leaders in the field, and prioritize ways to amplify attention to equity in their day-to-day work moving forward.

You will likely be in a cohort with others across the field who bring a range of perspectives. This advanced Certificate is a great opportunity for you to learn deeply from each other.

Structure and Focus of Certificate Program 3

Certificate 3 includes fewer synchronous hours than the previous Certificates. There are learning blocks, each comprising a 2-hour facilitated virtual workshop plus any hours that you invest naturally in your self-guided equity project work.

Each learning block is designed around a clear set of objectives that describe what you will have done to demonstrate your progress as they move through Certificate 3.

Check out the Learning Journey for Certificate 3, below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if this program is for me?

Ready to move from awareness to action?

If you have already explored the foundational concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and are looking for what comes next, the Equity in Practice (EiP) Certificate program is for you! Designed for park and recreation professionals who have already started their own DEI learning journey, the EiP Certificate program goes beyond the "why" to focus on the "how". You will build on your existing knowledge and take meaningful steps towards greater equity in your work and community.

What’s different about this program, as opposed to other DEI programs?

A Practical, Park and Recreation-Focused Approach to Advancing Equity

The EiP Certificate program is not your typical awareness-based DEI training. The EiP Certificate program is grounded in the realities of parks and recreation work and focuses heavily on building practical skills using a racial equity lens, and a focus on transferability. While racial equity is the central focus of this program, we will also explore how other identities (e.g., disability, gender, education) intersect and how local park and recreation professionals can better serve all members of their communities.

Because equity work in parks and recreation is inherently local, the EiP Certificate program uses real-world case studies from park and recreation agencies across the country. You will have the opportunity to connect learning directly to your agency's and community's context, moving from ideas to action!

What do I get for completing the Equity in Practice (EiP) Certificate program?

By the end of the EiP Certificate 1: Exploring Racial Equity, participants will create a doable Equity Action Plan while building the skills and confidence needed to advance equity through their work and within their communities. Learners who complete EiP Certificate 1 can choose to continue with Certificates 2 and 3, and learners who complete all 3 EiP Certificates will be prepared to serve as equity leaders in their communities and will be eligible to facilitate EiP Certificate 1 in their own agencies.

After each completed certificate, learners will receive a certificate of achievement. After completing all three levels, learners will earn the NRPA Equity in Practice Digital Badge, which can be proudly displayed on email signatures, resumes, websites, and social media profiles.

Learners may be eligible for CEUs upon completion of each certificate.

What can I expect my participation in this program to look like?

Connect with the content
Each certificate is interactive and designed for active engagement—your participation is key to your success. You’ll explore relevant, field-specific content through a series of modules that encourage critical thinking and practical application. You can review materials on your own time, share them with colleagues, and return to them throughout your work.

Connect with self
You’ll have time and space to reflect on what you’re learning—connecting new ideas to your lived experience, personal values, and professional practice. You’ll be invited to consider how the tools and concepts offered align with your beliefs, and decide how to use them with purpose in your work and leadership.

Connect with others
This is a collaborative learning experience. You’ll engage with peers from across the country, as well as colleagues from your own agency. Through structured discussions and shared reflections, you’ll exchange stories, questions, and insights that strengthen your ability to advance equity—while also learning from the work others are leading in their communities.

In short, you will get out of this program, what you put in!

What key content and outcomes can be expected from the certificate programs?

The EiP Certificate Program is designed to support lasting change at both the individual and organizational (agency) levels.

Key content areas include (but are not limited to):

Building shared understanding through common definitions of race, racism, white supremacy, privilege, and more—and comparing those definitions to personal and professional experiences.
Examining the historical roots and ongoing impacts of racism in parks and recreation systems, policies, programs, and community relationships.
Practicing equity-centered communication skills, including how to give and receive feedback, express empathy, and use “I” statements.
Developing an agency-specific Equity Action Plan that can be implemented and adapted beyond the program.

By the end of the program, participants report outcomes such as:

I ask myself—and others—critical questions about identity and equity when planning services and shaping policies.
I recognize how I—and my agency—may unintentionally contribute to inequities in the communities we serve.
My colleagues and I have a shared language and increased confidence to talk about race in the context of our work.
I actively identify and strengthen relationships that are missing from my work and agency efforts.

The EiP Certificate program is interactive and grounded in real-world application, equipping participants with both the insight and tools needed to lead equity efforts in their agencies and communities.

Why a focus on racial equity as opposed to equity more broadly?

NRPA has made a deliberate and informed decision to center racial equity as a starting point for advancing equity across the board. In conversations with park and recreation professionals across the country, many shared that racism is often the most difficult—and yet most urgent—form of inequity to address. By focusing on racial equity, we can build the foundational skills, mindsets, and confidence needed to confront and dismantle all forms of discrimination.

This approach is intentionally designed to be transferable. The skills and tools developed through a racial equity lens can be applied to promote equity across many historically excluded identities, including gender, age, ability, class, and more. Leading with race opens the door to deeper, more inclusive equity work that benefits entire communities.

Are there any requirements outside of the application form?

No. All enrollment requirements will be contained within the application for each certificate.

Do I have to attend all of the live workshops?

Yes--participants in the each live workshop is expected! The EiP Certificate program uses a module-based structure, with each learning block building on the last. Think of each EiP Certificate as a learning community and not "just a course"; as such, interactive learning, discussion, and reflection amongst our peers supports growth and meaningful experience.

Each certificate level includes live workshops: 6 workshops for both Certs 1 & 2, and 4 workshops for Cert 3. Each live workshop is 2.5 hours.

In addition to the live workshops, participants should plan on dedicating 60-minutes (1 hour) per week to self-guided work between live sessions. Active participation, both during and between sessions, is essential to achieving the program's goals and successfully completing each certificate.

Can multiple people from the same agency apply?

Yes, absolutely! In fact, we strongly encourage agencies to enroll more than 1 person in each cohort. All individuals must submit their own application. All applications must be received by their respective deadlines to be considered.