WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC RECREATION?

 Therapeutic Recreation is a specialized area in the field of recreation that focuses specifically on providing recreation and leisure services for people with disabilities or as a preventative measure for maintaining health and wellness in order to avoid developing disabling conditions.

Therapeutic Recreation services are often provided by certified Recreational Therapists with an emphasis in three areas:  Treatment, Leisure Education, and Participation. Often community TR settings do not require certification.  Treatment is provided to rehabilitate impaired functioning from an acquired or congenital disability in order to maintain the highest quality of life and highest level of functioning for the client.

Leisure Education Services are provided to assist an individual in developing and implementing a healthy balanced leisure lifestyle and may be provided in clinical or community settings.

 Participation is the ultimate goal of Therapeutic Recreation and is the inclusion of the client into the least restrictive setting for recreation and leisure opportunities.

 Recreational Therapists are expected to assess each client, formulate treatment plans that address the areas for intervention, implement the treatment plan, document progress on the client and evaluate the efficacy of the interventions being provided.  Recreational Therapists use recreational activities, leisure activities, drama, art, music, movement, writing and verbal processing as their tools to facilitate healing and growth of the client.

WHAT ARE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATIONAL THERAPISTS?

 Recreational Therapists work in a variety of community and clinical settings for people of all ages with physical and or psychological disabilities including but not limited to:

• Psychiatric Hospitals
• Rehabilitation Hospitals
• Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment Facilities
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Residential and Day Treatment Programs for children, adolescents, and seniors
• Schools
• Camps
• Community Senior Centers
• Community Recreation Centers
• Medical Hospitals
• Forensic Facilities (prisons, juvenile hall)
• Private Practice

 Graduates from San Francisco State University have many opportunities for employment after graduation with many of our graduates obtaining employment at their internship sites.  The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics predicts a 40% increase in employment opportunities in the field of Therapeutic Recreation through the year 2005. 

 Salaries vary from state to state, differ based on what level of care is being provided at the agency, and for what population.  Another variable is whether the Recreational Therapist has a BA or an MS degree and whether they are functioning as an administrator or a clinician. Salary surveys have been conducted by a variety of agencies and report starting salaries to range between 23-29,000 dollars a year and average salaries between 30,500-41, 000 dollars a year.

WHAT ARE THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETING A DEGREE IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION?

BA Degree:      Therapeutic recreation students can take the following TR oriented classes within their recreation degree:  REC 410, REC 445 and REC 650.  The Deparment no longer supports all the courses needed for TR certification. Those wishing to get a TR certification may need to attend a few classes at another university to meet national or state certification requirements. There is supportive coursework at SFSU in disciplines such as,  Anatomy & Physiology, Human Development, Abnormal Psychology, three classes in any of the following areas; Psychology, Kineseology, Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Gerontology, Nursing or Health Education.

MS Degree:    Students interested in the area of wellness and how recreation and leisure services can positively influence it can enroll in the recreation masters degree and develop a customized program through taking core classes and 4 specialization classes. The Deparment no longer supports all the courses needed for TR certification. Those wishing to get a TR certification may need to attend classes at another university to meet national or state requirements.

 Volunteer Hours:      The requirements are the same for RLS majors, that is a minimum of 800 hours. 

WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR BECOMING CERTIFIED AS A RECREATION THERAPIST?

 There are two certifications available for Recreational Therapists, national, and state.  Once you have completed your degree in Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation, you will be eligible to sit for the national exam.  For the State of California Certification, you will need to take the writing section of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).  Once you have passed the CBEST, you are eligible to sit for the California State TR Certification exam.  You may take the CBEST at any time during your course of study.  You will receive assistance in the application process for the exams and an exam preparation workshop is offered one to two times a year on campus.  This is the same for undergraduate and graduate students.

WHAT DOES SFSU’S THERAPEUTIC RECREATION PROGRAM HAVE TO OFFER?

• Small classes with individualized attention
• A variety of clinical and community settings for volunteer and internship opportunities
• Experienced and knowledgeable faculty in therapeutic recreation and recreation administration
• High quality supportive coursework options in:  Special Education, Social Work, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, Gerontology, and Kineseology
• An opportunity to work with inclusive TR programs based at SFSU
• Proximity and a close working relationship with Recreation Center for the Handicapped

 HELPFUL LINKS

• National Council For Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)
• California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS)
• American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
• National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) (email: NTRSNRPA@aol.com)

WHO DO I CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION?