How To Become a Recreational Therapist

Healing comes in many forms. Often, taking a medication, undergoing a surgical procedure or going to physical therapy is sufficient to allow patients to fully recover. Yet, there are also many complementary therapies to consider, such as recreational therapy. Let’s explore more about how to become a recreational therapist and their role in ones healing process.

In This Article:

• What Is a Recreational Therapist?
• What Does a Recreational Therapist Do?
• What Education and Experience Does a Recreational Therapist Need?
• Best Degrees for Meeting Recreation Therapy Education Requirements
• What Skills Does a Recreational Therapist Need?
• Median Annual Wage
• Expected Job Growth
• Where Do Recreational Therapists Work?
• Advancement Opportunities for Recreational Therapists

What Is a Recreational Therapist?

78%

Individuals with mental health issues who demonstrated “considerable improvement” with art therapy¹

A recreational therapist uses a range of creative therapeutic modalities to nurture a patient’s physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual wellness. Explore how to become a recreational therapist below as you consider your choices after graduation.

What Does a Recreational Therapist Do?

Recreational therapists use a wide spectrum of therapeutic and recreational techniques designed to help patients regain or maintain their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Therapeutic modalities may include art, music, sports, dance, animal interactions and many others. Recreational therapists develop treatment plans and use modalities that align with each patient’s individual interests and goals.

What does a recreational therapist do on a daily basis? Tasks vary, but may include:²

Health can be complicated, as a person's spiritual, mental, physical and social wellness can all intersect in varying ways. Recreational therapists use creative interventions to help patients learn coping skills, rehabilitate physical and mental functions and live life more independently. A recreational therapist may work with patients across the lifespan and with a wide range of disabilities or other health issues.²

What Education and Experience Does a Recreational Therapist Need?

There are various pathways to becoming a recreational therapist and each employer may have their own hiring criteria, which can include professional certification. Additionally, some states require recreational therapists to obtain certification to practice, providing clear guidelines for advancing in the field. As you reflect upon your own career pathway, it’s important to learn how to become a recreational therapist under the regulations in your state.³

High School Diploma

Since recreational therapists are typically expected to hold a bachelor’s degree, completing your high school education will be the first step.³ It may be a good idea to enroll in any health-related courses offered in high school. Additionally, since recreational therapists often use sports and various art forms to engage their patients, participating in a range of after-school extracurricular activities could be beneficial.

College Degree

After high school, plan on enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program. It’s common for recreational therapists to earn a degree in a healthcare area.³ Not all universities offer degrees specifically in recreational therapy. However, you might look for a related program, such as exercise science, since recreational therapists often incorporate sports and exercise into their rehabilitation treatment plans.

Internships

If you earn a bachelor’s degree specifically in recreational therapy, it may include a supervised internship component.³ Even if you earn a bachelor’s degree in another health-related field, however, it may benefit you to pursue internship opportunities. You can gain exposure to the field and hands-on work experience that you can list on your resume after graduation.

Entry-Level Roles

Although there may not be specific entry-level roles for future recreational therapists, gaining relevant experience through volunteer or assistant positions at community centers, social service agencies or similar organizations can be a valuable step toward building your career.⁴

Professional Certifications

Some states may require recreational therapists to be certified or licensed and some employers may prefer or require it, as well.³ While GCU’s program may not specifically offer the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential, pursuing this certification through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) can be a valuable career move. There are two ways to qualify to earn this credential. The first is to complete a bachelor's degree and supervised internship in recreational therapy and pass an exam. The other pathway enables individuals with a non-recreational therapy bachelor's degree to qualify for the exam if they have completed certain coursework and obtained work experience.³

Although earning professional certification in recreational therapy might not always be necessary, depending on your state, doing so may open the door to more employment opportunities.³ If your bachelor’s degree lacks specific coursework in recreational therapy, you might consider looking for a related master’s degree that can allow you to fulfill the recreation therapy education requirements.

Best Degrees for Meeting Recreation Therapy Education Requirements

While there is some flexibility regarding degree choice for this career field, it’s ideal to look for a degree program that may allow you to meet certification requirements. In general, future recreational therapists should consider choosing a health-related degree.³

While in college, aspiring recreational therapists are encouraged to engage in related extracurricular activities, such as sports and fitness, art clubs, music activities and similar opportunities. Doing so can give you more exposure to the types of activities you’ll use to engage your future patients.

Health-related degree programs vary considerably but may cover:

• Healthy behaviors
• Human anatomy
• Health education
• Physical fitness
• Motor control
• Nutrition for wellness

GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Recreational Therapists

Recreational therapists come to the field from a variety of academic backgrounds. However, they all generally need solid competencies in health-related topics, as well as recreational therapeutic modalities. They also need to be able to connect well with their patients and engage them in the process.³

If you’re passionate about the power of art and recreation to facilitate healing, you may wish to consider the following degree programs:

Bachelor’s Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Sports Performance
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy
• Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science 

What Skills Does a Recreational Therapist Need?

Because every patient is unique and has their own particular needs and interests, recreational therapists need to be able to adjust treatment plans to suit each patient. As such, they need to be able to draw upon a wide range of hard and soft skills.

Along with meeting the recreation therapy education requirements, you’ll want to work on cultivating the following essential skills:³ 

• Therapy techniques
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Patience
• Compassion and empathy
• Resourcefulness

Median Annual Wage

Salary expectations can vary considerably depending on factors such as certification status, employer, geographic location, years of experience and others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for recreational therapists was $57,120 as of May 2023.⁵

Expected Job Growth

According to the BLS, it is expected that the field of recreational therapy will continue to grow in some industries.⁶ From 2023 to 2033, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for recreational therapists to increase by 4%, about as fast as average, accounting for an estimated increase of 700 new jobs in the field.⁶

Where Do Recreational Therapists Work?

Recreational therapists may work for a range of employers. During their daily duties, they may travel to meet clients, work in community settings or work in an office.

Some industries that utilize recreational therapists may include:⁴

Advancement Opportunities for Recreational Therapists

Over time, recreational therapists may decide to evolve their career by specializing in certain areas, such as adaptive sports and recreation, developmental disabilities or behavioral health.³ After gaining plenty of work experience, recreational therapists might pursue advancement opportunities in supervisory or administrative positions. Others might acquire any additional credentials (e.g., a graduate degree) that may be needed to teach, consult or conduct scientific research.⁷