
Professional development for parks and recreation professionals has typically been reserved for national certifying organizations. Indiana University’s World Parks Academy seeks to unite national certification systems by providing the first international competency-based certification programs for the parks and recreation industry. Additionally, the World Parks Academy provides certifications for countries without a current national certifying body.
Challenges to international certification and training are significant; language, cultural context, time zones, and travel restrictions create a daunting challenge. The World Park Academy began using the LEAP LMS to manage its webinars, learning forums, and members interests.