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| Certification Program At a Glance |
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| The information below describes the different NAI Certifications, including requirements, descriptions, costs, and more. Click on the title of the certification or the icon to the left of each one for more information. |
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Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP)
Individuals who are responsible for planning (experienced or not) – from regional master planning to site-specific exhibit planning; should have some understanding of interpretation |
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| Requirements for Certification |
Workshop Description |
Numbers |
Cost |
• Must meet eligibility requirements
• open book exam
• essay exam
• evidence of performance
• NO WORKSHOP IS REQUIRED; however, a workshop is offered that fulfills several requirements for certification |
• 40 hours (5 days)
• Covers key components of interpretive planning model in lecture/discussion
• Participants complete open book exam; work in small groups on an actual project provided by host site; and present project findings and recommendations on final day, meeting 3 of 6 certification requirements |
Min: 9
Max: 15
With guarantee of 6-8 people and payment of instructor expenses, we can bring this workshop to your area and fill remaining slots with open advertisement |
$625 member
$700 nonmember
Includes workshop registration, certification fee, and materials. Food, transport, and lodging is not included.
Certification Fee without workshop:
$125 members
$200 non-members
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| Requirements for Certification |
Workshop Description |
Numbers |
Cost |
• Must meet eligibility requirements
• open book exam
• essay exam
• evidence of performance
• NO WORKSHOP IS REQUIRED; however, a workshop is offered that fulfills several requirements for certification |
• 40 hours (5 days)
• Designed for those who want to teach the CIG curriculum; includes entire CIG curriculum (see below); evaluation of CIG students; setting up and teaching the CIG course
• Participants complete open book exam; present 20-minute training session on final day, meeting 2 of 5 certification requirements
•THIS WORKSHOP IS REQUIRED FOR THOSE WANTING TO TEACH THE CIG CLASS AND CERTIFY INTERPRETIVE GUIDES |
Min: 12
Max: 24
With guarantee of 8-12 people, we can bring this workshop to your area and fill remaining slots with open advertisement |
$625 member
$700 nonmember
Includes registration, certification fee, and materials.
Food, transport, and lodging is not included.
Certification Fee without workshop:
$125 members
$200 non-members
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| Requirements for Certification |
Workshop Description |
Numbers |
Cost |
• Must meet eligibility requirements
• open book exam
• essay exam
• evidence of performance
• NO WORKSHOP IS REQUIRED; however, a workshop is offered that fulfills several requirements for certification |
• 40 hours (5 days)
• Covers overview of interpretation; 2 days on personal interpretation; 2 days on non-personal media (publications, interpretive writing, exhibits, signs, self-guided trails)
• Participants complete open book exam and work in small groups on several media projects; present 20-minute program on final day, meeting 2 of 5 certification requirements |
Min: 12
Max: 24
With guarantee of 8-12 people, we can bring this workshop to your area and fill remaining slots with open advertisement |
$625 member
$700 nonmember
Includes workshop registration, certification fee, and materials. Food, transport, and lodging is not included.
Certification Fee without workshop:
$125 members
$200 non-members
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| Requirements for Certification |
Workshop Description |
Numbers |
Cost |
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• Must meet eligibility requirements (education or experience – see handbook for details)
• open book short-answer/multiple-choice exam
• essay exam
• evidences of performance (3)
• NO WORKSHOP IS REQUIRED; however, a workshop is offered that fulfills several requirements for certification
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• 40 hours (5 days)
• Covers overview of interpretation; planning strategies with heavy emphasis on business planning, marketing, and budgeting; personnel and time management; and contract management.
• Participants complete open book exam and business plan; present business plan on final day, meeting 3 of 5 certification requirements |
Min: 12
Max: 24
With guarantee of 8-12 people, we can bring this workshop to your area and fill remaining slots with open advertisement |
$625 member
$700 nonmember
Includes workshop registration, certification fee, and materials. Food, transport, and lodging is not included.
Certification Fee without workshop:
$125 members
$200 non-members
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Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG)
New hires, seasonals, docents/volunteers, individuals who will be delivering interpretive programs or having public contact at interpretive sites but with no previous training in interpretation |
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| Requirements for Certification |
Workshop Description |
Numbers |
Cost |
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• Minimum age – 16
• MUST ATTEND 32-HOUR WORKSHOP
• Program outline
• 10-minute program
• open book exam
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• 32 hours (4 days – can be modified schedule if training staff or college students)
• Covers basics of interpretation; definition and principles; NAI opportunities for networking; knowing your audience; knowing your resource; program development using thematic approach; writing measurable performance objectives; program delivery techniques
• Participants complete open book exam, prepare a program outline, and deliver a 10-minute program on final day, completing all requirements for certification |
Min: 8
Max: 15
With guarantee of 4-6 people, we can bring this workshop to your area and fill remaining slots with open advertisement |
Total fee variable but includes the following elements:
$220 instructor fee (if provided by a contractor)
$80 certification fee
$50 membership
$10 materials fee
Training is available without certification or membership – current NAI members subtract $50 membership fee.
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Certified Interpretive Host (CIH)
New hires, seasonals, docents/volunteers, maintenance workers, receptionists, law enforcement – people who have public contact but do not deliver presentations |
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| Requirements for Certification |
Workshop Description |
Numbers |
Cost |
• Minimum age – 16
• MUST ATTEND 16-HOUR WORKSHOP
• Open book exam
• Video exam |
• 16 hours (2 days – can be modified according to individual site needs)
• Covers basics of interpretation; customer service and hospitality; using informal interpretation to support agency mission
• Participants complete an open-book exam and a video exam, completing all requirements for certification |
Min: 8
Max: 15
With guarantee of 4-6 people, we can bring this workshop to your area and fill remaining slots with open advertisement |
Total fee variable but includes the following elements:
$110 instructor fee (if provided by a contractor)
$80 certification fee
$50 membership fee
$10 materials fee
Training is available without certification or membership – current NAI members subtract $50 membership fee. |
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Notes
• Once open-book exam is taken for one category, it need not be taken if an individual wants to be certified in other categories.
• Certification lasts four years; recertification requires 40 hours additional training over the 4-year period and a fee of $35.
• Open-book exam is taken from the following books (available from NAI as certification library: $120 + $12 shipping/set)
. . . Environmental Interpretation by Sam Ham
. . . Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources by Douglas Knudsen, Ted Cable, Larry Beck
. . . Interpretation for the 21st Century by Larry Beck & Ted Cable
. . . Interpretation for Park Visitors by William Lewis
. . . Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell
. . . Interpreting Our Heritage by Freeman Tilden |
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| Certification Program Downloads |
The Administrative Information page offers quick downloads and sample pages for the certification program. Downloads include the NAI Certification Handbook, application forms, and more.
Click here to visit the Administrative Information page. |
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