Eppley Institute courses are designed for use by anyone interested in learning about subjects that pertain to parks and public lands topics. Additionally, the courses are available to anyone regardless of citizenship.

Many of the courses are designed in such a way to be applicable to other fields of study. For example, those interested in docent work in a museum may find the information presented in the Interpretation e-courses pertinent.

The courses are entirely web-based which means that learning occurs in an online environment. Each course is self-paced and self-study allowing the student flexibility in the time needed to complete the course. Additionally the design of an online course does not require learning to occur in a linear fashion; the student is invited to revisit and review sections in greater depth, if needed.

All courses include interactive elements, which encourage learners to interface with course content, and not strictly read the material. At the conclusion of every course an assessment is given, which allows the student an opportunity to measure the knowledge gained from the course.

A Continuing Education Unit, or CEU, represents 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience, as described by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), a CEU accrediting body.

Eppley Institute courses offer partial to whole CEU credit. The credit amount is based on the contact hours of participation. For example, a course requiring 3 hours of participation will offer 0.3 CEU compared to a course requiring 10 hours of participation, which will offer 1 CEU.

The Eppley Institute is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) through Indiana University and adheres to the IACET Standard. Adherence to such a standard ensures that training and learning experiences, instructional design, and continuing education units are supported and recognized by institutions worldwide.

CEUs are intended for use by professionals, particularly those who must attend a given amount of training to maintain certification, employment, or membership in his/her professional organization. For example, those with a credential of Certified Recreation Professional (CRP) could use CEUs issued by Indiana University to maintain their certification.

Transfer of CEUs into college credits is at the discretion of the college or university. Currently, Indiana University does not accept CEUs in place of college credits, nor does it transfer CEUs into college credits.

No, you will only be required to pay the CEU fee.

To purchase a CEU, please add the course and CEU option to your Shopping Cart. Before purchasing, contact the Eppley Institute [link to the support bar] for a gift certificate code to cover the cost of the course. You will only be required to pay the difference.

It is not necessary to re-take the course after purchasing the CEU. Your previous completion of the course is recorded and CEU credit will be added to your account.

To recover a lost password, begin by clicking , located in the white navigation panel across the top of the page. Once the log in box appears, click "Forgot Password?". You will be forwarded to a page requesting your email address. Please enter the same email address you use for your Eppley.org account. After entering your email address, click "Submit," and a new password will be sent to your email.

To change your password, begin by logging in with your email address and current password (Log In, found in the white navigation panel at the top right of the page). Once logged in, click ,located in the white navigation panel across the top of the page.

Below your recent orders, find "Account Information/Contact Information" and click "Change Password." Please enter your current password and your new password, and then click "Save." You will see a notification verifying that your account information was successfully saved. If you wish, you may log out and attempt to log back in with your new password. Please note that it may take several minutes for the system to register your new password.

This problem can occur if you have not recently cleared your web browser’s cookies and cache. To empty your cookies and cache, visit the question "How do I clear my cookies and cache?".

If emptying your cookies and cache does not resolve the log-in problem, please click the black "Support" tab on the left side of this page and fill out our help form. After you fill out the required fields, an Eppley Institute representative will contact you with further assistance.

Please note: Do not create a new account. If you create a new account, the courses you have previously registered for will not transfer to this new account.

Prior to clearing your cookies and cache, log out of your Eppley Institute account by clicking in the white navigation bar along the top right of the page. Then please follow the instructions below.

Internet Explorer 7

1. Click the "Tools" icon at the upper right of your browser page.
2. Select "Internet Options."
3. Under the "General" tab, find the heading "Browser History" and click the "Delete" button.
4. To empty your cache, please click "Delete Files."
5. To clear your cookies, please click "Delete Cookies."
6. Finalize the action by clicking "Close," and then "OK."

Internet Explorer 8

1. Click the "Safety" menu in the upper right of your browser page.
2. Select "Delete Browsing History."
3. Deselect "Preserve Favorite Websites Data."
4. Select "Temporary Internet Files" and "Cookies."
5. Click "Delete."

After clearing your cookies and cache, please close any open browser windows to finalize the process.

To register for an Eppley Institute account, begin by clicking the link in the white navigation panel along the top right of this page. Please fill out the account form, making sure all required fields are completed.

Please note: The email address and password you select will be necessary for logging in to your Eppley Institute account. It is advised that you enter an email address to which you will have continuous access. If you are a seasonal employee with the NPS, you should use your personal email address so that you can continue to access your courses after your employment with the NPS concludes.

To complete the registration process, click "Submit" at the lower right of the page. Please expect a confirmation email sent to the email address you entered.

Unfortunately, the system can only recognize one person per email address. In order to register for an Eppley Institute account, each user must have his or her own individual email address.

Please review your registration form to ensure that all required fields are completed. The required fields are marked by a red asterisk.

If the problem persists, please ensure you are using an email address that is not already in use by our system. Each account requires a unique address, meaning two accounts cannot use the same email address.

To purchase a course, please begin by logging in to your Eppley Institute account. If you do not have an account, please register for one (for further instructions see "How do I register for an Eppley Institute account?").

After logging in, visit the Eppley Institute Course Catalog to explore the wide range of courses we offer. Each course offers the option to "View More," where you will find an expanded course description and any course-related requirements. Once you have selected the course you wish to take, please decide if you would like to purchase a CEU. If so, click the box to the left of the CEU amount.

When you are prepared to purchase, click "Add to Cart." A notification will appear stating that the course was successfully added to your shopping cart. To view your cart and complete the purchase, please click the Shopping Cart , located in the white navigation panel along the top right of the page.

If the course is free, simply click "Place Order." If payment is required, click "Continue to PayPlus," and enter your payment information. After placing the order you will receive a confirmation email with further details on accessing the online course.

Yes, the Eppley Institute offers a discounted rate for NPS employees and partners who register for the Interpretation suite of courses. (Partners are described as any group, organization, or individual working or volunteering with any unit of the National Park Service.)

The discount reduces the fee to $29. If you wish to purchase the course at a reduced fee, please contact your local or regional Chief of Interpretation to obtain the discount code.

No, Eppley Institute courses do not have an expiration date or a time limit. However, it is suggested that you complete the courses in a timely manner to improve your performance on the course assessment.

Purchasing in bulk allows you to provide free access to the Interpretation suite of courses to your employees. To complete a bulk purchase, please follow the instructions below.

1. Select "Interpretation Course - Bulk Purchases" from the Eppley Institute Course Catalog.
2. Enter the total quantity of courses you wish to purchase.
a. Please note: The total quantity is the number of employees you wish to purchase for multiplied by the number of courses you wish each to take.
3. Click "Add to Cart."
4. To view your cart, click the Shopping Cart located in the white navigation panel along the top right of the page.
5. If applicable, please enter the discount code for NPS employees or partners in the discount code box, and click "Apply Coupon."
6. Finalize your purchase by clicking "Continue to PayPlus." This will redirect you to the secure Indiana University Commerce Manager Payer. Please enter your payment details here.

Once your payment is processed, you will receive an email containing the discount code. You may distribute this code to your employees, allowing them to register for the designated courses at no charge. The code will be available until the total number of registrations is exhausted.

Yes. Your employees will have two (2) years from the date of purchase to register for the courses. After they have registered, the courses do not expire. However, it is suggested that you complete the courses in a timely manner to improve your performance on the course assessment. If you would like an extension for your bulk purchase codes, please contact the Eppley Institute.

The Eppley Institute maintains a database recording discount code usage. If you wish to inquire about your park or organization's discount code usage, please have the authorized payer contact the Eppley Institute at (812) 855-3095.

The basic credit offers a certificate of completion upon successfully passing the course assessment, while the advanced credit offers a course credential. Earning an advanced credit is optional and requires that you adhere to additional course requirements.

If you wish to earn advanced credit you must work with a National Park Service (or National Association for Interpretation) registered coach, as well as complete all course activities. Your coach will grade your activities and provide feedback.

1. NPS employee coach acquisition

You may email program administrators John Rudy at John_Rudy@nps.gov or Katie Bliss at Katie_Bliss@nps.gov. Please be sure to indicate the region in which you work and for which course you wish to obtain an advanced certificate. The administrators will attempt to connect you with a registered coach in your region.

2. Non-NPS employee coach acquisition

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) is an official partner of the National Park Service and the Eppley Institute. Registered coaches are available for non-NPS employees and partners through the NAI website.

1. NPS employee coach notification

If a registered coach agrees to coach you, please have your coach contact program administrators John Rudy at John_Rudy@nps.gov or Katie Bliss at Katie_Bliss@nps.gov. Your coach must send the program administrators your name and the email address you used to register on the Eppley site, the name of course they will be coaching, and a confirmation that you are currently registered for the course.

2. Non-NPS employee coach notification

If a registered coach agrees to coach you, please have your coach contact program administrators John Rudy at John_Rudy@nps.gov or Katie Bliss at Katie_Bliss@nps.gov. Your coach must send the program administrators your name and the email address you used to register on the Eppley site, the name of course they will be coaching, and a confirmation that you are currently registered for the course.

The National Park Service offers Registered Coach Courses in each region throughout the year. Email program administrators John Rudy at John_Rudy@nps.gov or Katie Bliss at Katie_Bliss@nps.gov for a current training schedule and a list of training requirements and qualifications.

Registered Coach Courses are also offered by NAI throughout the year. Please check the NAI website for updates and training requirements.

All students are welcome to complete the activities to enhance their learning experience; however, only those students who are taking the course for advanced credit are required to complete the activities. Those students are also the only ones who will receive feedback on their activities.

If you are taking the course for advanced credit, you are expected to complete and submit each activity to your coach for his/her feedback and evaluation.

First, click on located in the white navigation panel along the top right of the page. Once redirected to the log in page, please select "Log In," located in the top right corner of the screen. Enter your email address and password. Please note that the email address and password must be the same ones you used when registering for the course.

Click "Submit" to enter and view your course list. To begin any course, simply click the course title and then select "Enter Course," located directly below the course picture.

If you have further questions, visit our support forum for more step-by-step instructions.

All courses offered in the Eppley Institute Course Catalog are online courses; no hard copy will be mailed to you.

To begin the course you ordered, follow these step-by-step instructions on accessing your courses.

To access any Eppley Institute course, you will need a computer with internet access. Several courses include interactive elements, so please make sure you have the most current version of Adobe® Flash.

Please visit the home page of each course to find further course-specific technical requirements.

You can print the course. However, we do not offer course material in one printer-friendly document. You would have to print each course page individually. Please note that the printed version may be slightly different than the onscreen version.

To obtain a certificate of completion, it is necessary to complete the assessment to verify that you understand the material presented in the course. A certificate of completion will be offered to you if you complete the assessment with an 80% or higher.

After completing the assessment with an 80% or higher, you have the option to print your certificate of completion. To do so, please follow these directions.

1. Log in to "My Courses," located in the white navigation panel across the top of the Eppley Institute website.
2. Click on the course title for which you wish to print the certificate.
3. In the center of course homepage, find the "Quick Links" section.
4. Under "Print Certificate," click the "Certificate of Completion" link.

Yes, simply log in to the course for which you wish to print a certificate and select "Certificate of Completion" under the section "Quick Links."