Recent News

Change in NCTRC Renewal Notification Process

Like many of us in our personal lives, NCTRC has implemented many changes in its work environment to reduce unnecessary waste and conserve precious resources. Advancements to the NCTRC website have resulted in significant savings in terms of paper use, mailings, and check processing.

 

In an effort to go one step further, NCTRC will no longer print and mail application packets to each CTRS for annual maintenance and recertification renewal. NCTRC records indicate that over 60% of CTRSs renew their annual maintenance and recertification on-line via the NCTRC website.

 

NCTRC will notify CTRSs of their pending renewal date by email or postcard. Printed application packets will be available only by request. It is expected that this decision will result in a decrease in paper applications and therefore, allow NCTRC to become a brighter shade of green.

 

•  If you are due to submit your annual maintenance application and fee, please do so by the December 31st or June 30th deadline to avoid a reinstatement fee.

•  If you are due to recertify this year, you will receive a postcard and/or email if you are in active standing. You must submit your application and fee early to waive the $50.00 recertification fee. Please submit your recertification application and fees by the December 31st or June 30th deadline to avoid forfeiting your CTRS credential.

 

You may submit your application on-line by going to MY NCTRC LOGIN. Please contact NCTRC at 845-639-1439 if you have any questions or concerns.

 

We appreciate your support of the NCTRC Certification Program!

 

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Mailing Labels and E-Mail Notification Process

NCTRC contact information is available for purchase by individuals or organizations who wish to provide CTRS certificants with professional information and materials related to therapeutic recreation. This policy outline and attached application provide the necessary information and procedures required to request CTRS contact information from NCTRC. The designated information must be directly related to continuing education opportunities, professional practice issues, informal research surveys, or important developments that directly affect the CTRS professional and TR/RT Practice. NCTRC does not provide contact information to commercial vendors.

Continuing Education Mailing Label Application              Research Mailing Label Application

 

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NCTRC Certification Standards: Changes, Updates and Effective Dates
The NCTRC Certification Standards serve as the official guidelines for test eligibility status and govern all requirements pertaining to certification and recertification. It is the policy of the NCTRC Board of Directors to post notice of all standard changes well in advance to effective dates.

The NCTRC Board of Directors has approved the following changes to the Certification Standards.

1. Content Coursework Information - Increase in Therapeutic Recreation Content Course Requirement:

Effective Date: January 1, 2013

Academic Path

“A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter credit hours of therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework with no less than a minimum of 15 semester or 20 quarter credit hours in therapeutic recreation content. A minimum of 5 courses in therapeutic recreation is required and each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours; AND…”

 

Equivalency Path A & B

“A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter credit hours of therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework with no less than a minimum of 15 semester or 20 quarter credit hours in therapeutic recreation content. A minimum of 5 courses in therapeutic recreation is required and each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours; AND…”

2. Content Coursework Information - Content Specific Therapeutic Recreation Coursework Requirement:

Effective Date: January 1, 2013

Content specific Therapeutic Recreation coursework will be required as part of the NCTRC professional eligibility requirements. The specific course content will include the following areas: a/ Assessment; b/ TR Process; and c/ Advancement of the Profession. It is recommended that each content area be addressed by a specific TR course and that at a minimum at least 50% of the course be devoted to the designated content material.

3. Field Placement Standards Information - Increase in the Number of Internship Weeks and Hours: Effective January 1, 2013 

Academic Path

A minimum 560-hour, fourteen (14) consecutive week field placement experience in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis.

 

4. Field Placement Standards information - Academic Field Placement Supervisor must possess the CTRS Credential:

Effective January 1, 2013

The Academic Field Placement Supervisor must be an active CTRS at the start of the field placement experience and is required to sign the final Field Placement Verification Form signifying that the candidate completed all stated components of the NCTRC field placement requirements.

 

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NCTRC Military Reserve Status

The NCTRC Board of Directors approved at its April 2003 meeting (and reaffirmed at April 2010 meeting) a Military Reserve Certification Status for those CTRSs currently on active duty in the Armed Forces. NCTRC recognizes the efforts of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces and is committed to assisting them to maintain their CTRS or Professional Eligibility status.

During the period of Reserve Status, the qualified individual is not required to complete the NCTRC annual maintenance or recertification application, pay annual renewal fees, or complete the NCTRC exam if test eligible. A qualified individual can remain on NCTRC Reserve Status as long as he/she is on active duty within a United States military service, not to exceed a period of two years. NCTRC Reserve Status will cease as of the date of your official military discharge from active duty.

If you wish to apply for Military Reserve Certification Status or have any questions regarding the information outlined above, please contact NCTRC.

 

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