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CTRS Verification

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Your journey to acquire the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) credential starts here.

Individuals wishing to become certified through National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) and earn the CTRS credential must meet specific educational and professional experience requirements, in addition to passing the NCTRC Certification Exam.

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) is the premier credentialing organization within the profession of Therapeutic Recreation.

The CTRS designation indicates that the individual has training and demonstrated abilities in core therapy skills including assessment, planning, implementation, documentation and evaluation. Once certified, individuals follow a five-year certification cycle to maintain their credential and show continued competence in recreational therapy practice.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Choosing to seek professional certification and earn the CTRS credential through NCTRC is an important step in your professional journey.

Review the educational and professional experience requirements prior to submitting a Professional Eligibility Application. The NCTRC Professional Eligibility Application may be initiated after the required coursework is completed. Applicants begin the Professional Eligibility process through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal. Applicants must obtain Professional Eligibility from NCTRC to register for the NCTRC Certification Exam.

To get started, review the requirements below.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Coursework

Completion of Therapeutic Recreation Content and Supportive Coursework in accordance with the following NCTRC Standards.

Completion of Therapeutic Recreation Content and Supportive Coursework in accordance with the following NCTRC Standards:

  1. Therapeutic Recreation Content Courses: A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter credit hours of Recreation Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation (RT/TR) content coursework that aligns with the NCTRC Job Analysis. A minimum of six (6) courses in RT/TR is required. Two (2) of the required RT/TR courses may be taught by the applicant as an educator in a college/university/academic program. Educators may not enroll in their own courses to meet certification requirements.
  2. Supportive Courses: A total of 18 semester hours or 24 quarter hours of support coursework with a minimum of: (i) three (3) semester hours or four (4) quarter hours coursework in the content area of anatomy and physiology; (ii) three (3) semester hours or four (4) quarter hours coursework in the content area of abnormal psychology/mental health conditions; and (iii) three (3) semester hours or four (4) quarter hours coursework in the content area of human growth and development across the lifespan. The remaining semester hours or quarter hours of coursework must be fulfilled in the content areas of social sciences and humanities.

The NCTRC Professional Eligibility Application may be initiated after the required coursework is completed.

All required coursework submitted for professional eligibility must be college-level credit bearing coursework and reflected on a transcript. Audited courses will not be accepted to meet the coursework requirements for eligibility.

Review the NCTRC Certification Standards for complete details and requirements.

Degree

Enrollment in or completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university verified by an official transcript.

Enrollment in or completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university verified by an official transcript.

  1. Baccalaureate degree or higher, with a major in one of the following:(a) therapeutic recreation (recreation therapy);(b) recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation;(c) therapeutic recreation, recreation, or leisure in combination with other fields of study (e.g., Therapeutic Recreation and Health Studies; Recreation and Sport Management; Leisure and Tourism);(d) a major in another field of study and completion of the required Therapeutic Recreation Content Coursework.
  2. An official transcript is a legal document issued by a university or college registrar that contains documentation of completed coursework and degree confirmation. The official transcript needs to contain the date of issue and the signature or seal of the registrar. NCTRC accepts both printed and electronic copies of an original academic transcript. However, electronic transcripts need to be sent directly to NCTRC from the registrar’s office. NCTRC does not accept photocopies or faxed copies of transcripts. Transcripts are not accepted if previously marked or altered in any manner. Please note that transcripts that cannot be matched with an application will be destroyed.

Review the NCTRC Certification Standards for complete details and requirements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Either (1) Academic Internship or (2) Paid Professional Work Experience – review the requirements for each below.

Academic Internship

Enrollment in or completion of an internship experience in accordance with the following NCTRC Standards.

Enrollment in or completion of an internship experience in accordance with the following NCTRC Standards:

  • A minimum 560-hour, 14-week internship experience for academic credit, that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis Study.
  • Supervision by an agency internship supervisor who must be an active CTRS on the first day of the applicant’s internship. Any change in certification status of the supervisor during the internship shall not affect the certification eligibility of an applicant.
  • Verify academic and agency supervisors CTRS status. Utilize the CTRS Verification Portal to access the full registry of active Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs).
  • The supervisory structure for the internship is at the discretion of the academic and agency supervisors.
  • Supervision by an academic internship supervisor who must be an active CTRS on the first day of the applicant’s internship and must be employed at the college/university.
  • The CTRS cannot serve in the capacity of both the academic supervisor and agency supervisor during a given internship experience. Only the agency supervisor can earn continuing education credit for supervising the intern.
  • An acceptable internship must be completed after the majority of required therapeutic recreation coursework is completed. Verification of the completed internship must appear on the official academic transcript. The majority of therapeutic recreation content coursework is defined as no less than 12 semester or 16 quarter hours of therapeutic recreation content coursework. This requirement applies to coursework completed at the degree earning institution and does not apply to coursework completed after the academic degree is conferred.

Review the NCTRC Certification Standards for complete details and requirements.

OR

Paid Professional Work Experience

Current employment or completion of paid professional work experience in accordance with the following NCTRC Standards.

Current employment or completion of paid professional work experience in accordance with the following NCTRC Standards:

  • A minimum of 5000 hours of paid professional work experience that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis Study, or
  • A minimum of 1500 hours of paid professional work experience that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis Study, under the supervision of a CTRS for at least 1 hour for every 10 hours worked each week.
  • The supervisor must be an active CTRS on the first day of the applicant’s paid professional work experience. Any change in certification status of the supervisor during the paid professional work experience shall not affect the certification eligibility of an applicant.
  • The supervisory structure for the paid professional work experience is at the discretion of the applicant and agency supervisor.
  • Verify an agency supervisors CTRS status. Utilize the CTRS Verification Portal to access the full registry of active Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs).

Review the NCTRC Certification Standards for complete details and requirements.

Candidates are eligible to register and sit for the NCTRC Certification Exam if they are in compliance with NCTRC’s Certification Standards and prerequisites, and it has been determined by NCTRC that all professional eligibility requirements have been met through the path to professional certification. Successfully passing the NCTRC Certification Exam is required to earn the CTRS credential.

NCTRC Certification Exam

Receive a passing score on the NCTRC Certification Exam.

Learn more

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION – THE CTRS CREDENTIAL

Upon certification, individuals receive an official CTRS certificate and digital badge to spotlight their achievement. NCTRC certificants follow a five-year certification cycle. Maintaining the credential is a valuable process and allows CTRSs to stand out within the profession and showcase their professional skills and competencies.

Discover More:
Information for Academic Programs
NCTRC Digital Badges