Is becoming a recreational therapist right for me?
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How to become a Recreational Therapist
A qualified recreational therapist is nationally certified as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS), and is certified through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). This requires a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university, a formal internship, and the passing of a national certification examination. In addition, a CTRS must maintain their credential every five years through the NCTRC recertification process.
Academic programs in recreational therapy emphasize course work in the physical, biological, and behavioural sciences and recreation and leisure theory. ATRA maintains a comprehensive list of Therapeutic Recreation curriculum programs in the United States.