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Child Passenger Safety Technician

What is a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST)?

Child passenger safety is an important aspect of occupant protection. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) play an essential role in keeping children safe in vehicles. Parents and caregivers can rely on these trained professionals for expert guidance on the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.

CPSTs provide hands-on assistance to help ensure that children are safely secured in vehicles. Research shows that families who work with a certified CPST before their baby’s arrival were ten times less likely to make mistakes with car seat use and installation.

It’s important to remember that CPSTs have the most accurate and current information about child safety as children grow. Utilizing CPSTs as a resource throughout your child’s development will help keep them safe on the road.

How to Become a CPST:

To become certified, CPSTs must complete a nearly 40-hour class based on a curriculum developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in collaboration with the National Safety Council, National Child Passenger Safety Board, and Safe Kids Worldwide.

This comprehensive curriculum covers:

  • The different types of car seats and their installation options
  • Vehicle differences and their impact on car seat use
  • Proper harnessing procedures
  • Hands-on exercises to ensure CPSTs understand how to correctly install and use car seats


For more information on the certification course: visit the Safe Kids website: Certification Course

Login into CPST Resources

Head over to CPST Resources and fill in your password to gain access or submit an update.

Need a password?

Certified CPSTs should contact Tara Helm to request your password.