Therapeutic recreation specialists use recreation as an intervention to promote independence, quality of life, and functioning for individuals with disabilities and other health conditions. Therapeutic recreation specialists assess physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs and abilities and, with this information, develop individualized treatment plans and intervention strategies to support the individual's goals toward health and wellness. Therapeutic intervention is delivered through the full range of recreational activities including the arts, horticulture, sports, games, adventure recreation, and interactions with pets, among many other leisure interests. Show
Watch and listen to the video from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification to learn more about a therapeutic recreation specialist career: What? I get to play all day? Sign me up! Okay, it is not that simple, but yes, Play Therapy is a real protocol for a Recreational Therapist. Some jobs require them to actually just play with clients, using play to assess children’s development, work through fears or anxieties, or communicate feelings too complex for children to articulate. Recreational Therapy may also be known known as Therapeutic Recreation or just straight Recreation Therapy. It’s an occupation that, according to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), provides treatment services to restore, remediate and rehabilitate. It’s primary purpose is to improve an individuals independence and eliminate or alleviate one;s illness or disability. The Recreational Therapist brings their resources to the client and helps develop a treatment plan using the tools they acquire in the RT training. Training can be found at the Associate, Bachelor, and Graduate school level depending on your career goals. Education A Bachelor’s degree is most often required for entry level jobs; however some Associate programs offer such an intense program that you may be able to acquire entry level jobs with the promise of continuing your education within a set amount of time. Nursing homes may be one option for those with an associate’s degree, as the title Activity Director usually only requires a minimum of 1 year of schooling. General coursework for RT’s at the undergraduate level includes:
Certification Most employers will expect an RT to be certified. Certification in RT is done through The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). They will require applicants to show proof of a completed bachelor’s degree, pass a written exam and complete an internship under the supervision of a CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) and in return they will receive that certification themselves. Work Environment RT’s may work in a variety of settings. Some work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, government jobs. or residential rehabilitation center. They work in an office to do planning, patient assessment, or administrative duties; however, most of time an RT is an applied therapy, meaning they are hands-on working with clients. They must have excellent social and communication skills. They must also have enough physical strength to move heavy objects, such as wheelchairs, to assist their physically disabled patients. What do they do all day? Examples of Intervention Modalities (This is the fun stuff you as a Recreational Therapist get to do!)
Outlook Recreation Therapy looks very steady as a Full-Time position and estimated, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to grow by 13% between the years 2012 to 2022. Baby-boomer aging has a lot to do with this; as that large generation ages they will need Recreational Therapists to help recover from mobility-related injuries or strokes. Therapists may also be needed to lead up community activities and programs that are designed to promote overall wellness for groups and individuals, especially for the seniors in our society. Recreational TherapistsCareer, Salary and Education InformationWhat They Do: Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Work Environment: Recreational therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments. Most therapists work full time. How to Become One: Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree. Many employers require therapists to be certified. Salary: The median annual wage for recreational therapists is $47,940. Job Outlook: Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of recreational therapists with similar occupations. Following is everything you need to know about a career as a recreational therapist with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career: Top 3 Recreational Therapist Jobs
See all Recreational Therapist jobs What Recreational Therapists Do[About this section] [To Top]Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. These therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings to help maintain or improve a patient's physical, social, and emotional well-being. Duties of Recreational TherapistsRecreational therapists typically do the following:
Recreational therapists help people reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic physical and mental abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively. They use interventions, such as arts and crafts, dance, or sports, to help their patients. For example, a recreational therapist can help a patient who is paralyzed on one side of his or her body by teaching patients to adapt activities, such as casting a fishing rod or swinging a golf club, by using his or her functional side. Therapists often treat specific groups of patients, such as children with cancer. Therapists may use activities such as kayaking or a ropes course to teach patients to stay active and to form social relationships. Recreational therapists help people with disabilities integrate into the community by teaching them how to use community resources and recreational activities. For example, therapists may teach a patient who uses a wheelchair how to use public transportation. Therapists may also provide interventions for patients who need help developing social and coping skills. For example, a therapist may use a therapy dog to help patients manage their depression or anxiety. Therapists may work with physicians or surgeons, registered nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, teachers, or occupational therapists. Recreational therapists are different from recreation workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment. Work Environment for Recreational Therapists[About this section] [To Top]Recreational therapists hold about 17,600 jobs. The largest employers of recreational therapists are as follows:
They use offices for planning or other administrative activities, such as patient assessment, but may travel when working with patients. Therapy may be provided in a clinical setting or out in a community. For example, therapists may take their patients to community recreation centers or parks for sports and other outdoor activities. Some therapists may spend a lot of time on their feet actively working with patients. They may also need to physically assist patients or lift heavy objects such as wheelchairs. Recreational Therapist Work SchedulesMost recreational therapists work full time. Some recreational therapists work evenings and weekends to meet the needs of their patients. How to Become a Recreational Therapist[About this section] [To Top]Get the education you need: Find schools for Recreational Therapists near you! Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor's degree. Many employers require therapists to be certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). Education for Recreational TherapistsRecreational therapists typically need a bachelor's degree, usually in recreational therapy or a related field such as recreation and leisure studies. Recreational therapy programs include courses in assessment, human anatomy, medical and psychiatric terminology, characteristics of illnesses and disabilities, and the use of assistive devices and technology. Bachelor's degree programs usually include an internship. Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Recreational TherapistsMost employers prefer to hire certified recreational therapists. The NCTRC offers the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential. Candidates may qualify for certification through one of three pathways. The first option requires a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy, completion of a supervised internship of at least 560 hours, and passing an exam. The other options also require passing an exam, but allow candidates with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated subject to qualify with various combinations of education and work experience. In order to maintain certification, therapists must either pass an exam or complete work experience and continuing education requirements every 5 years. The NCTRC also offers specialty certification in five areas of practice: behavioral health, community inclusion services, developmental disabilities, geriatrics, and physical medicine/rehabilitation. Therapists also may earn certificates from other organizations to show proficiency in specific therapy techniques, such as aquatic therapy or aromatherapy. Only a small number of states require licensure or otherwise regulate the work of recreational therapists. For specific requirements, contact the state's medical board. Important Qualities for Recreational TherapistsCompassion. Recreational therapists should be kind and empathetic when providing support to patients and their families. They may deal with patients who are in pain or under emotional stress. Leadership skills. Recreational therapists must plan, develop, and implement intervention programs in an effective manner. They must be engaging and able to motivate patients to participate in a variety of therapeutic activities. Listening skills. Recreational therapists must listen carefully to a patient's problems and concerns. They can then determine an appropriate course of treatment for that patient. Patience. Recreational therapists may work with some patients who require more time and special attention than others. Resourcefulness. Recreational therapists customize treatment plans for patients. They must be both creative and flexible when adapting activities or programs to each patient's needs. Speaking skills. Recreational therapists need to communicate well with their patients. They must give clear directions during activities or instructions on healthy coping techniques. Recreational Therapist Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]The median annual wage for recreational therapists is $47,940. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,710, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,610. The median annual wages for recreational therapists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
Most recreational therapists work full time. Some recreational therapists work evenings and weekends to meet the needs of their patients. Job Outlook for Recreational Therapists[About this section] [To Top]Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 1,500 openings for recreational therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment of Recreational TherapistsAs large numbers of the U.S. population move into older age groups, more people will need recreational therapists to help treat age-related injuries and illnesses. Older people are more likely than younger people to experience Alzheimer’s disease, a stroke, or mobility-related injuries and to benefit from treating these conditions with recreational therapy. Therapists also will be needed to help healthy seniors remain social, active, and independent in their communities as they age. In addition, the number of people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, is growing. Recreational therapists will be needed to help patients maintain their mobility, learn how to manage their conditions, and adjust recreational activities to accommodate physical limitations. Therapists also will be needed to plan and lead programs designed to maintain overall wellness through participation in activities such as camps, day trips, and sports. Employment projections data for Recreational Therapists, 2021-31
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor. Explore more careers: View all Careers or the Top 30 Career ProfilesWhere do recreational therapists make the most money?Highest paying cities for Recreation Therapists near United States. Vacaville, CA. $67.72 per hour. 15 salaries reported.. Delano, CA. $57.08 per hour. 6 salaries reported.. San Antonio, TX. $48.94 per hour. 18 salaries reported.. Houston, TX. $48.90 per hour. 7 salaries reported.. Los Angeles, CA. $36.92 per hour. ... . Show more nearby cities.. Where do most recreational therapists work?Recreational therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments. Most therapists work full time.
What are the benefits of being a recreational therapist?10 Amazing Benefits of Being a Recreational Therapist. We can work with almost anyone, in almost any environment. ... . We are there to help when life gets hard. ... . We get to watch others succeed. ... . We witness joy on the regular. ... . We are extremely supportive of one another. ... . Research is extremely supportive of us.. What is the job outlook for a recreational therapist?12% (2014)Recreational Therapist / Projected 10-year growthnull
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What can you do with a therapeutic recreation degree
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