In addition to being currently certified, there are four primary categories of requirements for re-certification. The first three, including seat check activity, community event and continuing education units (CEUs) are required for both technicians and instructors. The fourth, teaching hours, is only required for instructors.

Logging Seat Check Activity

As a part of the re-certification process, all technicians and instructors are required to have a currently certified instructor or technician-proxy witness and verify (instructors only) a correct installation for each of the following configurations during that particular certification period:

• Rear-facing infant child safety seat
• Rear-facing convertible child safety seat
• Forward-facing child safety seat with harness
• Belt-positioning booster
• Installation with LATCH

All required installations must be logged into the online system and verified online by the instructor prior to registering for the re-certification exam.

To log your required seats, after logging into Online Services, choose ADD SEAT CHECK ACTIVITY from the action items listed in your profile. On the reporting summary page, you can see the status of any previously reported activity for your current certification period. Click on ADD/REVIEW of the installation category you need. On this page, you can see the specific checks already submitted for this category as well as add more activity by entering the date and the Certification ID of the verifying instructor. If you’re not sure what his or her Certification ID is, you can search for them by last name.

Once a seat check is logged, the verifying instructor will be sent an e-mail notification of the pending verification. Verification may take up to 14 days. You can view the status of submitted seat checks by choosing REPORT/REVIEW RECERTIFICATION ACTIVITIES from your action item list.

Instructor Verification of Seat Check Activity

The primary purpose of instructor verification of the seat check activity required for re-certification is observation of your interaction with parents and children. The verifying instructor or their technician-proxy should feel confident in your ability to communicate accurate information to a parent or caregiver and should double-check that your installation and paperwork are appropriate and correct.

Direct observation helps ensure that communication with parents is accurate and consistent with the information and methodologies detailed in the standardized curriculum. The ideal has always been instructor observation of seat checks, and was strongly recommended by the National CPS Board.

Submission of checklist forms is no longer allowed. It was only allowed as an option until the geographic distribution of certified instructors improved. Additionally, instructors also have the option of designating a technician to serve as their proxy for observation of the seat checks required for re-certification.

We encourage all technicians and instructors to be proactive and supportive of each other in their efforts to maintain certification.

The following guidelines were approved by the re-certification committee of the National CPS Board:

• During a seat check, it is always best to have the child present.
• Instructors and technicians are strongly encouraged to make every effort to do an actual safety seat checkup.
• If an actual caregiver is not available, the instructor may choose a mock scenario, where a colleague acts out the part of the parent.
• It is strongly encouraged that instructor verification of required seat check activity be completed on an ongoing basis throughout your certification cycle, rather waiting until near your certification expiration date.

Once a seat check is entered for verification, the instructor will be sent an email notification. As this email notification is provided as a courtesy, it is the responsibility of the instructor to review the requests. The email is not required to access the seat check verification request.

Instructors, to review seat checks submitted for your verification, log into Online Services and click on REVIEW/APPROVE SEAT CHECKS. You will see three separate tables. The first includes any seat checks that are pending your approval. Make any pass/fail designations needed and click SUBMIT.

As a side note, the second table includes seat checks that you have already passed or failed and those that were automatically approved for individuals that have not yet re-certified. You can change the pass/fail status for any of these seat checks as well. The final table includes seat checks that you have already passed or failed and those that were automatically approved for individuals that have re-certified. These cannot be changed, as the person’s re-certification may have been dependent upon that approval.

PLEASE NOTE: If no action is taken, seat checks will automatically be approved after 14 days. However, you do have the ability to cancel a reservation as long as the individual has not already paid, completing the registration process.

Using Technician Proxies for Verification of Seat Check Activity

Designating a Technician-proxy

Any currently certified instructor may designate a technician to serve as his or her proxy for observation and verification another individual’s installations required for re-certification.

The designated technician-proxy would evaluate and provide feedback during the seat checks and then provide that information to the instructor, who has the ultimate responsibility of verifying the seat check online. Records documenting each check must be kept by both the instructor and technician-proxy for future reference.

PLEASE NOTE: This policy went into effect April 11, 2005 and is not retroactive.

When to Use a Proxy

While it is preferable to have all direct observations and verifications conducted by a currently certified instructor, Safe Kids recognizes that may not always be feasible.

Below are some example cases in which a proxy could be used:

• A currently certified instructor is not available within 30 miles of a technician’s residence or place of employment and neither the instructor nor the re-certifying individual are able to travel
• There is a very short timeframe in which to conduct the seat checks prior to an individual’s certification expiration date
• Other scheduling conflicts
• An instructor needs assistance with the volume of seat checks needing to be observed and verified

PLEASE NOTE: Safe Kids recognizes that this policy is not for everyone. If an instructor does not wish to designate, or does not feel comfortable with designating this level of responsibility to a proxy, he or she is not obligated to do so.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the documentation required and seriousness of the position, it is recommended that an instructor designate no more than two technician-proxies.

Proxy Eligibility Requirements and Recommendations

Instructors interested in designating a proxy, must be aware of the requirements and recommendations as follows:

• REQUIRED: Is a currently certified technician
• REQUIRED: Has extensive hands-on experience
• REQUIRED: Will maintain or improve their level of knowledge and skill
• REQUIRED: Can provide and maintain a written history of CPS experience and training to the instructor (to be updated regularly)
• REQUIRED: Is an excellent communicator
• RECOMMENDED: Has a minimum of two years hands-on experience

PLEASE NOTE: Instructors may develop additional requirements to supplement those listed.

Instructor Responsibilities

• Maintain instructor certification
• Designate an eligible, trustworthy technician as their proxy
• Maintain close contact with the proxy regarding all seat check activity he or she is observing
• Maintain adequate records regarding each seat check activity, including the proxy’s name, date, seat check type, person observed checking the seat, etc. (a log sheet is available in Resources->Forms)
• Review the proxy’s history of CPS experience and training regularly to determine continued eligibility
• Verify all seat check activity observed by your proxy(ies) online
• The instructor is ultimately responsible for the quality and accuracy of all seat check observations conducted by his or her proxy.

PLEASE NOTE: If the instructor’s certification expires, by default, any designated proxy(ies) are no longer eligible to observe seat checks on behalf of that instructor.

Proxy Responsibilities

• Maintain technician certification
• Follow instructor seat check verification guidelines and recommendations as outlined in the policies and procedures manual
• Maintain close contact with the instructor regarding all seat check activity being observed
• Maintain adequate records regarding each seat check activity, including the technician’s name, date, seat check type, etc. (a log sheet is available in Resources->Forms)
• Actively seek to maintain or increase your current level of CPS knowledge and skills
• Submit your updated history of CPS experience and training to the instructor regularly

Verification Process When Using a Proxy

1. Instructor selects/trains the technician-proxy
2. Proxy observes seat checks, instructing the re-certifying individual to use the instructor’s certification ID number when logging the activity online.
3. Proxy sends instructor their verification log sheet (minimum recommended tracking system, available for download) detailing their name and who was observed for which seat.
4. When logging the seat check into the online system, the re-certifying technician must enter the instructor’s certification ID.
5. Instructor will verify the seat check online

PLEASE NOTE: Technicians designated to serve as proxies may only do so in relation to the seat checks required for re-certification. This policy is not intended to supersede any local standards or requirements for seat verification outside of the re-certification process for national CPS certification (e.g. Safe Kids BUCKLE UP Senior Checker or Lead Instructor designations).

PLEASE NOTE: If any instructor or proxy is found abusing this system, action may be taken by the certifying body. Any abuse by the technician-proxy falls under the responsibility of the instructor.

Community Event

All technicians and instructors are required to participate in at least one community event.  This event must be logged into the online system. 

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 community education.  Examples include presenting to parents, educators, kids, organizations (PTAs, law enforcement).  These are presentations to non-CPSTs.

Continuing Education

All technicians and instructors are required to log at least six hours of CPS technical continuing education (CEUs) into the system.  The CEUs must be obtained and reported during one’s current certification cycle (two years).  There is no carry-over from one period to the next, even when more than the required CEUs have been accumulated.  CEUs must fit into one of the five approved categories and meet content requirements.

1. In-person Session/Workshop (maximum 6 CEUs)
2. Observing a CPS Certification or Renewal Course (max. 3 CEUs)
3. Teleconferences (max. 5 CEUs)
4. Online/Web sessions (max. 5 CEUs)
5. Newsletters/Manuals/Journals (max. 3 CEUs)

Technicians and instructors may mix and match categories to meet the six required hours of continuing education. 

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.  Examples are provided in FAQs. 

Details and audit requirements for each CEU category

Category #1:  In-person Session/Workshop

A. Maximum allowable hours: 6

B. Description:  You must attend a structured presentation/session that meets content requirements during the certification cycle.  You are encouraged to get your information from more than one person or source. 

1. Event examples: Must meet content requirements

a) Local, regional or state CPS meetings

b) A CPST attends a national meeting and then provides a formal update locally to CPSTs. 

c) “CPS on School Buses” course (NHTSA)

d) “Safe Travel for All Children: Transporting Children with Special Health Care Needs” (Automotive Safety Program at Riley Hospital for Children, www.preventinjury.org)
(a) For this significantly advanced course, CPSTs may submit CEUs for this course taken 3 years prior to their certification expiration date, extending beyond the usual 2 years. One time only. 

e) National conference sessions discussing technical CPS skills (ex: Lifesavers, American Academy of Pediatrics, etc.)

f) Because the following courses do not contain more information than is in the basic CPS certification course, they do not qualify for CPS CEUs:  Op-Kids LE, Op-Kids RN, Safe Native American Passengers, Moving Kids Safely in Childcare.  This will be reconsidered after they are updated.  

2. You may not include your original certification course

3. Check up events, while valuable, do not qualify for CEUs. They do not qualify for continuing education as it is already required in other re-certification areas. 

C. CPS Certified presenters at local, state or national meetings may apply 1.5 hours for every hour developed and taught.

1. Maximum allowable hours: 3

2. The audience for these sessions must be primarily CPSTs (not the general public), necessitating that the CPST conduct research to obtain the latest information. 

3. You may count each session once.  For example, if you provide three sessions of the same workshop, it only counts one time, even if they are offered at different venues/locations.

4. Members of the CPS course instructor team may not include the course for CEUs.  Teaching hours are required as part of your re-certification.  Watching other instructors while on the team is part of the general course instructor experience.

5. CONTENT ALERT:  If a certified presenter provides information contrary to best practice or based on rumors, they may be brought up for certification appeal.

D. Audit requirements

1. Event information (one required)

a) Copy of meeting/conference agendas (Must include the session title, date and time)

b) Printed copy of presentation

c) Copy of the session description from the official conference program.  The  sessions that you attended must be clearly marked

2. Proof of attendance (one required)

a) Certificate with topic, date and times

b) Personal letter/email from event provider

c) Copy of sign in sheet with your name circled.  Must include the session title, date and time.

d) Proof of conference registration (example: receipt)

e) Memo confirming conference attendance from supervisor (pre-2007 events only)

f) Proof of travel to and from event  (pre-2007 events only)

NOTE: Name badges will not be accepted

Category #2: Observe a Certification or Renewal Course

A. Maximum allowable hours: 3

B. Description: Technicians may sit in and observe a national Certification or Certification Renewal Course for a maximum of 3 CEU hours.  Every hour of classroom auditing (outside skills work does not count; classroom time only) may apply ½ CEU towards re-certification. 

1. The minimum number of hours sitting in is two since ½ credits may not be included or combined with other CEU categories.

a) Three CEU options:

(a) Example #1: You sit in on 2 or 3 hours of a course.  You could submit 1 hour of CEUs for re-certification.

(b) Example #2: You sit in on 4 or 5 hours of a course.  You could submit 2 hours of CEUs towards re-certification.

(c) Example #3: You sit in on 6 or more hours of a course.  You could submit 3 hours of CEUs for re-certification, the maximum allowed for sitting in on a course.

C. Members of the course instructor team may not include the course for CEUs.  Teaching hours are required as part of your re-certification.  Watching other instructors while on the team is part of the general course instructor experience.

D. Instructors who have not yet taught a specific type of course (such as the new certification course) may sit in on that course for CEUs. 

E. Requirements: You must get approval to sit in from the lead instructor for the course.  No materials will be provided.  There is no national course fee but local fees may be required.

F. Audit requirements

1. Certification or Certification Renewal Course ID#

2. Personalized letter/email from the lead instructor confirming specific dates and times of attendance.

Category #3: Teleconferences

A. Maximum allowable hours: 5

B. Description

1. A teleconference is a call with a moderator and many callers.  Participants call into a designated number to listen in on the call.  Depending on the format established by the moderator, it may be listen-only or allow interaction by participants.

2. Teleconference calls that meet content requirements for CEUs may be applied towards re-certification.  To qualify for CEUs, there must be a formal agenda published in advance.  Call notes and confirmation of attendance must be provided to attendees.

a) Examples of attendance confirmation are:

(a) Roll call

(b) Automated call tracking (system records call in number and facilitator matches call in numbers to CPST).

(c) Participants are given a special code at some point during the call and have a specified amount of time to contact the facilitator (such as “Please email (fax) the call code SAFE6742 to the facilitator no later than 5 pm tomorrow to be added to the official call roster.  You must be on the official call roster to use this call for re-certification CEUs.”)

C. Audit requirements

1. Event information (one required)

a) Agenda with dates, times and objectives

b) Official call minutes or notes provided by moderator/sponsor

2. Proof of attendance (one required)

a) Certificate with topic, date and times

b) Personalized letter/email from the lead instructor confirming specific dates and times of attendance.

c) Official call minutes or notes provided by moderator/sponsor with list of attendees

Category #4: Online/Web sessions

A. Maximum allowable hours: 5

B. Description: Interactive Web update or online course that meets content requirements for CEUs.

C. Audit requirements

1. Event information (one required)

a) Copy of event agenda/outline/objectives (Must include the session title, presenter name, date and time)

b) Printed copy of presentation

c) Copy of the event description from the official event provider

2. Proof of attendance (one required)

a) Certificate with topic, date and times

b) Personal letter/email from event provider

c) Print out of completion confirmation page.  Must include the session title, date and time.

Category #5:  Newsletters/Manuals/Journals

A. Maximum allowable hours: 3

B. Description: Eligible purchased newsletters must have national circulation with primarily CPS technical content geared towards CPSTs.  All publications must be peer-reviewed (e.g. review committee) and approved by the certifying body. e.g. Tech Update, Journal of the American Medical Association, Pediatrics, STAPP

C. Approved publications and audit requirements 

1. Free Newsletters

a) Tech Update

(a) Publisher: NHTSA
(b) Published online semi-annually on the CPS Board Web site
(c) For more information: http://www.cpsboard.org
(d) Quizzes

• Provided if selected for audit (see below)
• Based on editions submitted for CEUs

b) Audit requirements

(a) Quizzes provided when selected for audit
(b) 2 passing (80%) quizzes are required for 1 CEU; 1 CEU maximum

2. Purchased Newsletters – Proof of purchase provided by publisher

a) Safe Ride News 

(a) Publisher:  Safe Ride News
(b) Printed bi-monthly
(c) For more information: http://www.saferidenews.org/

b) SafetyBeltSafe News

(a) Publisher: SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
(b) Printed bi-monthly
(c) For more information: http://www.carseat.org/

c)1 CEU per year of subscription

d) Audit requirements

(a) Publication name
(b) Proof of purchase provided by publisher (NOT Safe Kids) must include:

• Name of technician or technician instructor
• Date of proof of purchase
• Dates of subscription/total CEU eligible (1 CEU per one year) during certification cycle

3. Manuals

a) LATCH manual 

(a) Publisher:  Safe Ride News
(b) Latest edition: 2005
(c) For more information: http://www.saferidenews.com/
(d) Audit requirement

• Technicians must provide completed quiz (provided by Safe Ride News at http://www.saferidenews.com/ ) to auditor with a passing grade of 80 percent.  One CEU per completed quiz.  One CEU maximum

b) Child Restraint Manufacturers’ Instructions (CRMI) or individual instruction manuals 

(a) Publisher of CRMI CD-ROM:  SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
(b) Latest edition: 2005
(c) For more information: http://carseat.org/
(d) Audit requirement

• Technicians must complete and submit quiz via email to SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. (provided by SBS USA at www.carseat.org).  Technicians will be provided with audit documentation via email from SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.  One CEU per completed quiz.  One CEU maximum.

4. Scientific journals/Conference Proceedings

a) Read 3 published CPS-related articles may be submitted for 1 CEU maximum.  Must be a peer-reviewed, national, scientific publication (e.g. Journal of the American Medical Association, Pediatrics, STAPP)

b) Audit requirements

(a) Issue and volume of issue containing article
(b) Approved purchased newsletters (named above) may not be used for this.
(c) Complete copies of articles/proceedings must be provided. 

 

Teaching Hours

In addition to the previously mentioned requirements, instructors must also have a minimum of 20 hours of lecturing and hands-on teaching during the current two-year certification cycle, at least 10 of which must be earned teaching the Certification course. The additional hours may involve mentoring, teaching the Certification Renewal course or a combination of both.

Teaching hours are automatically tracked by the system through the course administration and finalization process. Individual instructors are not responsible for inputting their own teaching hours.