If you love helping people who are disabled or suffering from the long-term effects of illness or injury, then a career in recreational therapy might be right for you.
Recreational therapists are an important part of the health professional community and generally find their work very rewarding.
Demand for this position has been on the rise, so there is no better time than the present for anyone interested in providing this valuable service to enroll in schools and graduate to work in this important but underappreciated profession.
What Recreational Therapists Do
A typical job description might include helping patients such as people with physical and mental disabilities, elderly patients, children with developmental disabilities, people with emotional disabilities, and more.
The main importance of the work is in the use of recreation (play, arts and crafts, dance, sports, games, excursions and other activities) to promote the active and interested participation of the patient.
These activities help improve and maintain physical strength, motor function and coordination, social skills, and emotional well-being. By helping those in need to learn the same things that everyone else learns and to feel included in society, therapists play an important role in enabling people with many different challenges to lead happier and more productive lives.
Nursing care and skilled nursing facilities employ many recreational therapists. Others find work in regular hospitals and surgical facilities. In addition, many find employment in state and private psychiatric care and substance abuse facilities.
Depending on the type of facility a person works at, the salary ranges from about $25,000 per year to more than $63,000 per year. Currently, the median salary for recreational therapists is just over $40,000 per year.
Becoming a Recreational Therapist
The requirements have recently changed. Today, there are two ways one can become a licensed and certified recreational therapist, either by graduating from accredited programs or through work experience certification, although the former is much more preferred.
Associate degree programs do exist, but students should be warned that they are being phased out; most employers look for graduates with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree as a result.
There are also Master’s and Ph.D. programs available for those who wish to further their education, but professionals are not required to have those degrees for certification, licensure, and employment.
Although it is not possible to earn a base degree online, many programs offer parts online; However, continuing education and advanced degrees can sometimes be completed in an online format.
As with almost any other profession in the medical and health care profession, attending only accredited programs is essential for students to be sure they are getting the most desired and current training.
Failure to attend an accredited institution can affect a prospective recreational therapist’s ability to become certified, which can then negatively affect their marketing for job openings; Most facilities looking for recreational therapists are interested in hiring only certified individuals.
For this reason, it is strongly recommended that students confirm a program’s accreditation status before enrolling. The Recreation Therapy Education Accreditation Committee (MAP) oversees the accreditation of recreational therapy programs.
Certification and license
To obtain legal employment as a recreational therapist, individuals must receive a recreational therapist certification and then apply for licensure within their state.
Certification of these professionals is coordinated and overseen by the National Therapeutic Recreation Certification Council (NCTRC), and there are multiple paths one can take to become certified as a recreational therapist.
Although most people attend college and graduate from one of the many dedicated educational programs available, some candidates may be able to become certified if they have a bachelor’s degree that is not specific to recreation therapy, but includes a certain amount from recreational therapy courses and also have work experience in the field.
Students who meet the certification requirements and pass the certification exam are awarded the title of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, at which point they can apply for licensure and then seek employment.
Job growth is slightly higher than for the general job market, with estimates that the profession will grow at a rate of 17 percent over the next few years (versus 14 percent for jobs overall).
This means that students who meet their educational requirements and obtain the necessary certification and licensure should have little difficulty finding employment in their career.
For those who are compassionate and enjoy helping those who need assistance in their daily lives, a career in recreation therapy can be an excellent option.