Parking Attendants


Requirements

Education and Training Requirements

High School

A high school diploma is usually the minimum requirement for parking attendants. A well-rounded education provides a good foundation for this profession. Take classes in math, science, history, and computer science. English classes will help hone communication skills needed for customer service work. Take driving classes and any technical or shop classes that cover working on cars or related topics.

Postsecondary Education

There are no specific education requirements for parking attendants. Those who wish to advance to management positions usually must have a bachelors degree in business administration, management, or other related areas. Coursework for this includes communications, science, social studies, math, as well as business and financial management, accounting, business statistics, microeconomics, among other topics. 

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

Parking attendants may receive voluntary certification to enhance their job skills and knowledge and enhance their reputation in the field. The National Parking Association offers the Certified Parking Professional (CPP) designation to parking professionals who pass a certification examination, which covers topics such as safety, operations, maintenance, and human resources. The CPP designation must be renewed after three years. Find information at https://weareparking.org/page/cpp.

Other Requirements

Parking attendants must be at least 18 years old and hold a vaild drivers license. They should also have a clean driving record and no criminal record.

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Most parking attendants have one or more years of related work experience and usually receive on-the-job training. They must be 18 years old or older, hold a valid drivers license, and have a good driving record. They are representatives of the organizations for which they work. They are often the first impression that people have of how the organization is run. Successful attendants are professional and courteous. Not all drivers are easy to deal with and attendants must remain calm and patient to effectively handle whatever problems may arise. They are careful drivers who are able to manage parking cars and handling parking tickets and fees in a timely manner. Attendants must also be skilled in using payment processing software. People who do best in this type of work have strong customer service skills, are able to establish and maintain good relationships with coworkers and patrons, and are extremely skilled at driving and maneuvering different types of vehicles in a variety of settings.