Current Students
Programmatic Goals
- To prepare competent, entry-level recreational therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains
- To provide relevant and current recreational therapy education and experiences across practice settings and diagnostic group
Internship in Recreational Therapy
Eligibility for internship includes completion of all REC courses with 80% competency (internship is the last course taken) and current certification in CPR and First Aid. All students complete 600 hours, 15 week, full time, clinical experience for 6 credit hours. Students will fulfill the requirements as outlined in the internship manual.
Career Options
Recreational therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts, to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.
The median salary for a Recreational therapists is $47,710 per year or $22.94 per hour (2020), depending on where you are located in the country and scope of the position. For more information visit, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Certification
A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is the qualified provider of recreational therapy. Individuals seeking certification apply to National Council on Therapeutic Reaction Certification (NCTRC) and must meet established standards that include education, experience, and continuing professional development. The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential is granted by NCTRC after the specific educational and experiential qualifications are met, eligibility to take the exam is established, and testing is successfully completed.
Individuals who have been involved in a criminal proceeding or charged with or convicted of a crime may not be eligible for national certification by the NCTRC. Students are strongly advised to work with the NCTRC for pre-application review of eligibility for certification from their website or call 845-639-1439 for more information.
