THERAPEUTIC RECREATION QUALIFICATIONS

Therapeutic Recreation in Washington is provided by professionals who are university trained, nationally certified and state registered.

Washington state university programs include Eastern Washington University and Western Washington University.  See the Links page for university programs in other states.

A Bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement, with Master's and Doctoral programs available.  Minimum required coursework for the Bachelor's includes:

1. 9 semester or 12 quarter hours of therapeutic recreation courses that can include:
   • An introductory therapeutic recreation course covering an overview of the concepts of therapeutic recreation
   • History of therapeutic recreation
   • Philosophy of therapeutic recreation
   • Principles, practices, processes, procedures, methods and techniques of therapeutic recreation
   • Therapeutic recreation assessment and evaluation
   • Program/protocol design and planning in therapeutic recreation
   • Clinical issues, current trends and problems in therapeutic recreation
   • Implications of disabling conditions for therapeutic recreation
2. 9 semester or 15 quarter hours of general recreation courses that can include:
   • Further therapeutic recreation courses
   • An introductory recreation and leisure studies course
   • 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
3. Anatomy and physiology
4. Abnormal psychology
5. Human growth and development across the lifespan
6. Prevention, transmission and treatment of HIV
7. 9 semester or 16 quarter hours of human services courses than can include, but is not limited to:
   • Counseling
   • Death and dying
   • Gerontology
   • Interpersonal communications
   • Medical ethics
   • Medical terminology
   • Adaptive physical education
   • Introductory psychology
   • Developmental psychology
   • Cognitive psychology
   • Social psychology
   • Kinesiology
   • Criminology
   • Cultural anthropology
   • Introductory sociology
   • Sociology of medicine/healthcare
   • Introductory special education

Upon completion of the majority of coursework, a field placement experience, under the direct supervision of a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, consisting of a minimum of 480 hours over 12 consecutive weeks is required.

After successful completion of all coursework and the field placement experience, successful completion of the certification exam through the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification^® at the minimum acceptable competency level is required to use the CTRS^® (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist^®) credential.

In Washington state, to assert oneself as a recreational therapist, registration with the state is required.

To determine if someone is certified, click here.

To determine if someone is registered in Washington state, click here.

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