1. Who is responsible for making sure I recertify? (added Jan. 25, 2011)
Although many technicians have people who help them stay certified, like a local instructor or someone with their agency, the individual technician is ultimately responsible for maintaining their certification. This includes updating their online profile and making sure their contact information is correct, entering their recertification requirements (seat checks, CEUs) and paying the applicable fees before their certification expires.
Technicians and instructors are responsible for their certification like manufacturers are responsible for crash testing, they self-certify. They are required to keep personal written proof of the types and content of their CEU achievements.Recertification can be completed up to 4 months in advance without losing any time. If you recertify in March but your cycle is July 15-July 14, it stays July. For information about your recertification requirements, please go to the certification home page http://cert.safekids.org and click on Re-certification. There you will find information about the requirements for recertification and instructions on how to enter your information in your online profile. To help you keep track of your progress offline, you can print out and use the Recert Log.
READ MORE >> http://cert.safekids.org/ImATech/Recertification.aspx
2. When is the earliest I can recertify? (Dec. 18. 2009)
You can register up to 4 months in advance of your certification expiration date. You will NOT lose any time--your dates stay the same. Because your certification cycle stays the same, any CEUs obtained after you recertify but before the first day of your new certification cycle may not be applied to the new cycle.
Be sure the official contact information in your Online Profile is up to date so you'll get the reminders and notices.
Since you don't lose any certification time and you have two years to acquire your 6 CEUs, it is strongly encouraged that you recertify early so you don't risk forgetting and letting your certification expire.
3. What is the Community Event? (March 3, 2011)
OPTION 1: Two-hour check up event with at least one other CPS Technician at which you serve families using any standardized checklist to provide documentation, if needed.
OPTION 2: Provide at least four hours of CPS education or community outreach to non-CPSTs. Technicians are welcome to combine different types of events they have provided to meet the time requirement (e.g. four 1-hour sessions).
Examples of community outreach include talking at birthing classes, PTAs, EMS/law enforcement, a preschool or Head Start, Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) or other parenting groups and organizations. Working health fairs where you are primarily talking about CPS would also count towards this requirement.
Technicians may choose material from a variety of credible resources as long as it reinforces best practice. A great resource for technicians is the National CPS Board's CPS Technician Community Outreach Toolkit which can be saved or downloaded from the Safe Kids CPS Certification website. A link to this toolkit is provided through your CPS Online Profile. Just log in and click on Technician or Instructor Downloads (CPS Board) to access the toolkit online. No extra passwords necessary!
4. What is a CEU? (added Sept. 25, 2006)
Generally, one hour of technical contact time counts for one continuing education unit (CEU), with a few specific exceptions. All categories of CEUs must meet the content requirements of improving CPS technical knowledge such as LATCH, a child restraint manufacturer workshop or CPS technical update. Non-technical CPS sessions, such as how to get funding or run an inspection station do not qualify.
READ MORE >> http://cert.safekids.org/ImATech/Recertification/CEUs.aspx
5. What is the Renewal Course and who is it for?
The 8-hour National CPS Training Certification Renewal Course was updated in the summer of 2008 and is a way for once-certified individuals to become certified again. In order to be eligible for this course, the student must have a CPS profile with a certification status of EXPIRED. There is no limit for how long ago their certification expired.
All students MUST be current in their CPS knowledge and skills and come ready to test! Students must pass the skills test (only two attempts per station) and make at least 84% on the written test. There is no limit to the number of times students can take this course but if students do not pass, it is recommended that they retake the full Certification Course.
How do I register? Technicians with expired certifications must register using the online system. If you are not able to register online, it is likely you logged in as a new user. If you did, your status will show as CONTACT rather than as EXPIRED in your online profile (see right column).
If you have ever held national CPS certification, you already have an assigned username and password. If you log in as a new user instead, the system will show no record of your certification history. If you do not know your username or password, and you have the same email address you did when you were originally certified, try clicking on "Forgot Your Password?" at the log in screen. You may also contact CPS customer service at cps.certification@safekids.org or toll-free at 877-366-8154 877-366-8154 .
6. I passed a “Safe Travel for All Children: Transporting Children with Special Health Care Needs" course. How does it show up in my profile? (rev. Nov. 15, 2012)
The National Center for Safe Transportation of Children with Special Healthcare Needs at Riley Hospital for Children receives all paperwork from the course instructor within 30 days of the completion of the course. Once the paperwork is received by the National Center, Safe Kids is provided with the rosters and tech profiles are updated within 2 business days. When your profile is updated, you will see "Extra Training: Special Needs" in your CPS Online Profile.
Did you pass a course and it’s not in your profile? Contact the National Center directly: Laura W. Novak, laulawil@iupui.edu, 317-274-6709.