Leadership Certificate Package 2022

Updated in 2022 for 2022-25; The NRPA Leadership Certificate provides park and recreation professionals practical and applicable methods for taking themselves and their agency to the next level. This four-course online certificate program builds a foundation for professionals aspiring to leadership roles. Whether you come from a large or small agency, the NRPA Leadership Certificate prepares you to handle any decision that comes your way. 

Who Should Enroll?

Park and recreation professionals aspiring toward or currently working in senior management and leadership roles.

Course Details and Registration

To earn your Leadership Certificate and 1.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), you must complete all four online courses. These courses expand upon the leadership foundation you have already developed and provide you with a deep dive into the concepts that make good leaders great.

Whether you have 10 minutes or an hour, the Leadership Certificate offers a robust online learning opportunity designed for maximum flexibility. The certificate can be purchased as a full package or individual courses. 

Full Certificate CEUs: 1.2 


Strategic Thinking
Take a deeper dive into creating a strategy-focused organization. Learn how to develop and implement a strategy at your organization and redefine how you think about, assess and view the future.

Human Capital Management
Gain a better understanding of human capital management and methods for achieving a good return on investment from employees. Learn how to create an effective organizational culture and how to develop effective teams within your organization.

Operational Leadership
Explore best practices for creating and measuring effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in park and facility operations.

Diversity and Cultural Awareness
Explore the importance of developing a diverse, equitable and ethical workplace. Learn how to design an inclusive environment for your organization both internally and externally.


  • Diversity and Cultural Awareness 2022
    Includes Credits

    Diversity and cultural awareness explores the importance of developing a diverse, equitable, and ethical workplace. To instill an innovative and progressive workplace, it is important that leaders consider how to instill diversity into the organizational culture.

  • Human Capital Management 2022
    Includes Credits

    This course explores the characteristics of Human Capital Management. Most park and recreation agencies spend half of their budget or more on labor costs. As a result, it is imperative to receive a good return on investment in employees as they are an organization’s most important asset.

  • Strategic Thinking 2022
    Includes Credits

    Part of NRPA's Leadership Certificate, Strategic Thinking is a process that defines how you think about, assess, view, and create the future. Leaders have the responsibility to include strategic thinking for themselves, their employees and the organization as a whole by applying these strategies for the part of the organization that they are responsible for.

  • Operational Leadership 2022
    Includes Credits

    Operational Leadership represents best practices in creating effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in operations from recreation and parks to park and facility planning and administrative support