RT/TR Professional Preparation for National Certification
Verify certification of a therapist
To enter the RT/TR profession, one must hold a Baccalaureate, Masters or Doctorate in either Therapeutic Recreation or Recreation with a Therapeutic option (emphasis). Completion of such degrees from an accredited program, as well as a fieldwork experience meeting certification standards, makes one eligible to sit for the national TR certification exam given by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®).
Minimum required coursework
There are three academic paths toward national certification. Minimum required coursework for each path includes:
- Academic Path
- Equivalency Path A
- Equivalency Path B
Academic Path
- 12 semester or 16 quarter hours of TR courses that can include:
- Introductory TR covering an overview of the concepts of TR
- History of TR
- Philosophy of TR
- Clinical principles, practices and processes of TR
- TR assessment and evaluation
- Program/protocol design and planning in TR
- Clinical issues, current trends and problems in TR
- Implications of disabling conditions for TR
- TR for specific populations or in specific settings
- Adminstration, management and supervision of TR services
- 6 semester or 8 quarter hours of general recreation courses that can include:
- Further TR courses
- Introductory recreation and leisure studies
- History and philosophy of recreation and leisure
- Leisure theory
- Management, supervision and administration of recreation and leisure
- Financial management of recreation and leisure
- Legal aspects of recreation and leisure
- Recreation and leisure program design, development and planning
- Psychology, sociology or social psychology of leisure
- Recreation leadership and group dynamics
- Recreation facility and area design
- Leisure research and evaluation
- 18 semester or 24 quarter hours of supportive courses to include:
- 3 hours of anatomy and physiology
- 3 hours of abnormal psychology
- 3 hours of human growth and development across the lifespan
- 9 semester or 15 quarter hours of human services courses than can include, but is not limited to:
- Related biological or physical sciences
- Kinesiology
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation counseling
- Death and dying
- Gerontology
- Medical aspects of rehabilitation
- Substance abuse
- Interpersonal communications
- Medical ethics
- Medical terminology
- Adaptive physical education
- Introductory psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Social psychology
- Delinquency
- Criminology
- Deviant behavior
- Cultural anthropology
- Introductory sociology
- Sociology of medicine/health care
- Introductory special education
- Theories of learning
Equivalency Path A
Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university verified by an official transcript and the following:
- 18 semester or 24 quarter hours of TR and general recreation content coursework with no less than 12 semester or 16 quarter hours in TR content. 4 courses in TR are required and each course must be at least 3 credit hours.
- Supportive courses to include 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours from 3 of the following 6 areas:
- Adaptive physical education
- Related biological and/or physical sciences
- Human services
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Special education
Equivalency Path B
Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university verified by an official transcript and the following:
- 18 semester or 24 quarter hours of TR and general recreation content coursework with 12 semester or 16 quarter hours in TR content. 4 courses in TR are required and each course must be at least 3 credit hours.
- Supportive courses to include 18 semester hours or 24 quarter hours with a minimum of:
- 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours of anatomy and physiology
- 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours of abnormal psychology
- 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours of human growth and development across the lifespan
- 9 semester hours or 15 quarter hours of human services
Minimum required experience
In addition, one must have fieldwork experience to be eligible to sit for the national certification exam. This includes:
- Academic Path
- Equivalency Path A
- Equivalency Path B
Academic Path
- Fieldwork experience of 480 hours over 12 consecutive weeks
- Uses the TR process as defined by the current NCTRC® Job Analysis
- Direct supervision by an on-site certified therapeutic recreation specialist® (CTRS®) meeting standards for field placement supervision
- Completed after the majority of coursework is completed as verified on the official transcript and the required fieldwork verification form
Equivalency Path A
- 5 years of full-time, paid experience in TR services that uses the TR process as defined by the NCTRC® Job Analysis
- 1 year full-time experience is defined at least 1500 hours worked, excluding scheduled and unscheduled leave, within 46 weeks out of 52 consecutive weeks. 32 hours weekly constitutes full-time work. Part-time employment of no less than 20 hours weekly will be pro-rated to full-time equivalent up to the minimum of 1500 hours of employment.
- Most of experience must consist of direct client services, rather than administrative or consultant work
Equivalency Path B
- 1 year full-time, paid work experience in TR services that uses the TR process as defined by the NCTRC® Job Analysis
- To occur within the 5 years before certification application
- 1 year full-time experience is defined at least 1500 hours worked, excluding scheduled and unscheduled leave, within 46 weeks out of 52 consecutive weeks. 32 hours weekly constitutes full-time work. Part-time employment of no less than 20 hours weekly will be pro-rated to full-time equivalent up to the minimum of 1500 hours of employment.
- Experience must be supervised by an on-site CTRS® meeting supervision standards
- Most of experience must consist of direct client services, rather than administrative or consultant work
After successful completion of all coursework and the field placement experience, successful completion of the certification exam through the NCTRC® at the minimum acceptable competency level is required to use the CTRS® credential.
Details of Certification Standards
Verify certification of a therapist
