What is the difference between the Playground Maintenance Technician Program and other national playground safety classes?
The Playground Maintenance Technician Program is designed specifically for front-line staff (and their supervisors) responsible for the hands-on inspection and maintenance of playground equipment. While playground administrator issues such as ASTM playground and accessibility standards are included, the primary focus of the program is on practical maintenance issues such as:
– playground inspection frequency
– hazard identification
– how to safely take equipment out-of-service
– playground documentation
– working with equipment manufacturers
– limiting liability
– maintaining common playground equipment materials
Another distinctive feature of the Playground Maintenance Technician Program is the use of a virtual playground setting to help participants learn more effectively by bringing the playground into the classroom. This instructional tool helps participants to learn within a virtual playground setting to actively identify hazards and address maintenance concerns.
» Read the PMT Policy Brief
Who should attend this class?
Anyone who performs hands-on playground safety inspections and maintenance, along with those who supervise playground maintenance staff should attend the Playground Maintenance Technician Program. Participants with experience ranging from just a few weeks up to 30 years, find the two-day course practical and informative.
How long is the Playground Maintenance Technician Program?
The program lasts approximately two days and does not require any class or test preparation.
How does certification work? Do I have to recertify?
This is a certificate-of-completion program. There is currently no recertification requirement.
After finishing the program participants receive a certificate of completion and 1.3 CEUs (13 hours of participation).
What does the PMT cost?
In-Person:
Host Option:
– $8,000 for 25 participants includes administration, materials, shipping, and instructor fees.
– Additional costs per person, up to 45 total participants, is $125 per person.
– A $1,500 retainer fee is required 6 weeks prior to the training.
– Note: A minimum of 25 participants must be enrolled 4 weeks prior to the training date.
Partner Option:
– $380 per person includes all costs including administration, registration management, materials, shipping, and instructor fees.
– A minimum of 30 participants must be enrolled 4 weeks prior to the training date.
Open Enrollment Regional Training:
– $380 per person includes all costs including administration, registration management, materials, shipping, and instructor fees.
Virtual:
Self-Paced Virtual – $380 per person
Online Cohort – $385 per person
What does a PMT schedule look like?
Day 1:
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
– Sign-in and get materials
– Welcome and introductions
– Liability
– Playground maintenance process
– Break
– Hazard prevention
– Safety surfacing on the playground
Around Noon
– Lunch
– Playground materials – concrete
– Playground materials – wood
– Playground materials – plastic/synthetic
– Break
– Playground materials – metals
– Playground materials – fasteners/connectors
Around 3:30 p.m.
– Wrap up and evaluation, day 1
Day 2:
8:30 a.m.
– Questions from day 1 & Inspection process, frequency and procedures
– Break
– Record keeping and documentation
– Removing equipment from service
Around Noon
– Lunch
– Virtual playground: Swings
– Virtual playground: Track ride
– Virtual playground: Sand-digging equipment
– Virtual playground: Spring rocking equipment
– Virtual playground: Composite
Around 3:30 p.m.
– Wrap up and evaluation, day 2
What resources will I need for the course?
Aside from an internet connection for online students, no additional resources are required for this course.
Hosting Options
Work with the Eppley Center for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University to schedule a Playground Maintenance Technician training program in your area. The Eppley Center will make sure your agency has the tools to make the training a success.
Host Benefits:
- Demonstrate your commitment to provide quality playgrounds.
- Improve safety and reduce liability on your playgrounds.
- Certified instructors provided by the Eppley Center at Indiana University.
- The PMT program does not require a physical playground, all training is conducted in a virtual environment.
Hosting Option vs. Partner Option:
The Eppley Center understands it can be difficult to secure the support and commitment for a training opportunity. We offer a host option, where the cost per person is less, but your agency is responsible for registration, catering, and other logistics. The partner option is more per person, but the Eppley Center is responsible for most logistical items. (See “What does the PMT Cost?” above). Additionally, many host sites seek successful sponsorships from insurance representatives, playground equipment and surfacing companies, or local foundations and associations to defray program costs.
Host Option Responsibilities:
- Your agency promotes the program using a flyer template provided by the Eppley Center.
- Your agency manages registrations, reserves a training location, and arranges/pays for lunch.
- Your agency is required to assist the PMT instructor the day before and during the two-day training.
- Your agency can generate revenue after covering program costs.
Partner Option:
- Your agency promotes the program using an online registration system and promotional materials provided by the Eppley Center.
- Your agency reserves a training location and is required to assist the PMT instructor the day before and during the two-day training.
Testimonials
“The PMT class is by far the best one to attend and the only one you need to attend, from my perspective. After taking the CPSI Certification course and passing the test, I felt that I did not have enough knowledge still to perform playground inspections. I searched the web for other classes dealing with playgrounds to increase my knowledge about playground inspections and maintenance. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of options available out there. I found and attended all three different playground related classes in the last six months: PMT, NPCAI-Risc, and the NRPA Playground Maintenance class. This course keeps you engaged the entire time and has a variety of information about playground maintenance. The ‘Maintaining Child’s Play’ book that you receive in class is packed full of useful information. this book will be one that I will keep in my toolbox and will reference when inspecting playgrounds.“
– William Ping, Owner, Park Play Protection LLC
“The PMT program from the Eppley Center is the most comprehensive playground maintenance program out there. It’s a must for boots-on-the-ground maintenance personnel and the persons that supervise them. I’ve been involved in maintenance and inspection of public-school playgrounds for over 20 years, and I highly recommend it.”
– Fred Cahill, Safety Tech II, Risk and Benefits Management
“Like many organizations, CIRSA has members maintaining thousands of parks and recreation facilities around the state of Colorado. Over the years we have seen many CPSIs come and go from our membership with less personnel desiring to go down this path. We began searching for an alternative that would satisfy the basic needs of everyday maintenance staff, those who wanted a broad knowledge base prior to working towards the CPSI, and for those who have no desire to obtain the CPSI. Not finding what we were looking for, we had started an initiative to develop our own in-house program and then luckily found the PMT program. Not only did the PMT program meet our needs but, with two separate courses offered, it was one of the highest attended events we have had in a long time.”
– Greg Barlow, Loss Control Manager, Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency
Online Option
PMT is now available as an online training. It can be taken asynchronously on an individual basis or an a cohort. The cohort takes places over a three-week period and includes four live webinars. The webinars will provide learners with an opportunity to interact with a PMT instructor who will answer questions, review concepts covered in e-courses, and lead interactive learning activities. Participants will be required to complete 13 e-courses with assignments on their own over the course of the training. Each e-course takes approximately an hour in length to complete. Learn more and sign up for PMT Online.