Recreation Therapy

Help improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being through recreational activities. Recreation Therapists plan, coordinate, and direct recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or other health concerns. They use a variety of modalities including arts and crafts, music, theater, dance, sports, games, and community trips.

Recreational therapists hold about 20,000 jobs in the states. The largest employers of recreational therapists are hospitals (e.g., state, local and private), government (e.g., VAs, Correctional Systems, etc.), nursing care facilities (e.g., skilled nursing, assistive living, daily living facilities, etc.), ambulatory healthcare services, and other social and human services. Lately, there is a growing trend for recreational therapists to work in private practice providing services in the home and community as well. Depending on the settings, recreational therapists will be working with diverse populations such as individuals with physical disabilities, older adults, individuals with psychiatric disorders, pediatric patients, youth at risk, and people with developmental or mental disabilities. Some examples of job titles in Recreation Therapy are as follows:

Recreation Therapist
Recreational Therapist
(Nationally Certified) Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
(State Certified) Recreation Therapist Certified (RTC)
Recreator Certified (RC)
Activity Director
Activity Coordinator
Inclusive Recreation Specialist
Special Recreation Coordinator
Rehabilitation Therapist

Work Settings

Hospitals
Physical Rehabilitation Hospitals
Psychiatric Hospital
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Substance Treatment Center
Correctional Centers
Government Parks and Recreation Departments
Outdoor Adventure Therapy
Camps
Private Recreation Therapist Practitioner
School-Based Recreation Therapist

Career Outlook and Pay

Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for Recreational Therapists are expected to grow at an average rate: 7% in the next 10 years, national.

Median annual wage

CA: $69,245 (2024) https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/recreational-therapist-salary/ca (Salary.com)
US: $51,330 (2022) (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm) (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
2019, Data from National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC.ORG)

To become a nationally certified recreation specialist: visit National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

NCTRC Specialty certification

To become a State certified recreation specialist visit:

California Board of Recreation Therapy Certification (CBRTC). https://cbrtc.org/

Other Professional Organizations in Recreation Therapy:

ATRA

CPRS

Recreational therapists want to share their passion for recreation and leisure activities with other people. They want to help people feel better by participating in these activities.

Compassion

Recreational therapists should be gentle, kind, and empathetic when working with patients. They often work with patients who are in emotional and/or physical pain.

Critical Thinking skills

Recreational therapists should be able to quickly adapt activities to meet the individual needs of the patients.

Leadership Skills

Recreational therapists motivate patients to participate in recreational activities.

Active Listening

Recreational therapists listen carefully to a patient’s concerns before deciding on a therapeutic method.

Patience

Recreational therapists work with a variety of people, including people who require extra time and attention to learn an activity.

Communication Skills

Recreational therapists need to give clear instructions during activities.

Physical Stamina

Recreational therapists are often on their feet and should be able to demonstrate activities.

Related Careers

Recreation Management
Gerontology
Physical Education/Adapted Physical Education
Social Work
Sports Industry
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Music Therapy
Speech Therapy
Adaptive Behavioral Therapy

To be considered for freshman admission to CSULB applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

Complete each of the courses in the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory subject requirements with a grade of C or higher prior to high school graduation.
Graduate from high school by the end of the Spring term prior to Fall enrollment.
Have a minimum “Eligibility Index” to be considered. The “Eligibility Index” is the result of a formula that combines your achievement in high school college preparatory courses with the results of the redesigned SAT, old SAT or ACT

To be considered for transfer admission to CSULB, applicants must demonstrate the following:

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0

And, to be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following:

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.4
Minimum lower division preparation (grade of C or better required): (Major preparation course: PSY 100 – General Psychology)
Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:
- Written Communication
- Oral Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics if Statistics course above is not GE approved

Degree Requirements (65 units)

Recreation Therapy (REC) Courses (18 units):

Take all of the following (15 units):

REC 351 - Foundations of Inclusive Recreation and Recreation Therapy (3 units) (also, a dept. common core course)
- Prerequisites: A "C" or better in REC 141 or REC 225. REC majors, REC Therapy majors, and REC minors only. Exclude Freshmen.
REC 451 – Management and Administration of Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- Prerequisite: REC 351.
REC 452 – Assessment and Documentation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in REC 351.
REC 453 – Comprehensive Programming and Evaluation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in REC 351.
REC 458 – Clinical Techniques in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in REC 351.

Take one of the following courses (3 units):

REC 455 – Recreation Therapy for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (3 units)
- Prerequisite(s): REC 351 or Consent of Instructor

REC 456 – Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Psychiatric Disorders (3 units)
- Prerequisite(s): REC 351 or Consent of Instructor

Non-Recreation Therapy Requirement Courses (32 units)

PSY 100 – General Psychology (3 units)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: Students who score 147 or above on the English Placement Test or "C" or better in one of the following AFRS 100A , ASAM 100A , CHLS 104A , ENGL 100A or ALI 150 or equivalent.

ANTH 319 – Human Growth and Development (3 units) (3 units)
- Prerequisite: None
BIOL 207 - Human Physiology (4 units)
- Prerequisites: Completion of B4 and at least one course in GE A category (A1 or A2 or A3).
BIOL 208 - Human Anatomy (4 units)
- Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in one of the following: ART 372, BIOL 201, BIOL 205, BIOL 207, BIOL 212, BIOL 311, CHEM 140, DANC 261, or MICR 200.
PSY 370 - Abnormal Psychology (3 units)
- Prerequisite: PSY 100.
REC 141 – Introduction to Leisure Services (3 units) (also, a dept. common core course)
- Prerequisite/Corequisite: One GE Foundation course.
REC 341 – Evaluation and Research in Leisure Studies (3 units) (also, a dept. common core course)
- Prerequisites: A "C" or better in REC 141 or REC 225. REC and REC Therapy majors only. Exclude Freshmen.
REC 469 – Disability, Culture, and Intervention (3 units)
- Prerequisite: Freshmen are prohibited from enrolling in upper division courses.
REC 473 – Aging and Leisure (3 units)
- Prerequisite: None.
REC 480 – Philosophy of Recreation and Leisure (3 units) (also, a dept. common core course)
- Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in REC 341, REC 351, and three 400 level REC classes. Open to recreation majors only. Exclude freshmen. Department consent.