Find answers to commonly asked questions for CTRSs.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) is the premier credentialing organization within the Therapeutic Recreation profession. A qualified recreational therapist is nationally certified as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) through NCTRC and is often referred to as a Recreational Therapist.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) has partnered with the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE), and Council on Accreditation – Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) to create an overview of the Organizational Roles within the Therapeutic Recreation Profession
For details and occupation-specific information, review the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) O*NET Ally listing for Recreational Therapists.
NCTRC requires that all candidates and certificants maintain their legal name and address in the official NCTRC records. To report a name change, login to MY NCTRC LOGIN and complete the Name Change process. If you only need to change your address, you may update your contact information by logging into your profile through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal or you may email your requested changes to nctrc@nctrc.org.
We recommend that you keep all of your contact information updated in your NCTRC account. NCTRC sends email notification to the email address on file in your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal, so be sure to keep your email address updated and check your inbox for communication from NCTRC.
Certificants are welcome to download and/or print a copy of their CTRS® certificate by logging into their account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal. Please visit MY NCTRC LOGIN and on the Dashboard Profile, please select “CTRS Certificate”. Please view the NCTRC video tutorial: How to Print Certificates for further assistance.
Utilize the CTRS Verification Portal found on the NCTRC website to access the full registry of active Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs). Review the CTRS Verification page at NCTRC.org to learn more about verification tools available through NCTRC.
When using the CTRS Verification Portal, please be sure to use either a last name OR certification ID number (not both). Confirm the spelling and/or numbers entered in your search and click “Submit”.
NCTRC requires certificants to regularly update changes in their name and address, but occasionally, such changes are not reported to NCTRC. If name change has not been reported, the CTRS may not be found within the verification portal. Contact the NCTRC office or review the CTRS Verification page at NCTRC.org to learn more about additional verification tools available through NCTRC.
Please note that NCTRC staff may request your assistance if we believe the individual that you are searching for may be using the “CTRS” or “Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist” designations in violation of NCTRC’s trademark rights. You should not assume that the individual is violating NCTRC’s trademarks or that the individual’s certification has been suspended, revoked, or sanctioned. NCTRC does not include information related to current or past disciplinary sanctioning on the verification portal.
NCTRC considers alleged violations of the NCTRC Certification Standards a serious offense and encourages all responsible parties to contact NCTRC with any direct knowledge of CTRS professional misconduct. For further information, go to the Disciplinary Process – CTRS Professional Misconduct page at NCTRC.org. For complete details, review the NCTRC Certification Standards.
Review the information on Recreation Therapy Licensing and Regulation of Practice Boards. Contact the licensing boards for specific requirements and detailed information.
NCTRC has a Military Extension Policy to support certificants and applicants who have been ordered to active military duty. Active military personnel who fall into this category can request a suspension of their certification or eligibility requirements with respect to required deadlines and fees. For more information or if you believe you qualify, please email nctrc@nctrc.org.
NCTRC PRESENTATIONS
Webinars: Consider inviting NCTRC to present a webinar to your group on the Certification Process, NCTRC Overview of Services, or other topics. Please complete the NCTRC Webinar Request Form found on the NCTRC website and email it back to nctrc@nctrc.org. A Credentialing Specialist will get back to you with NCTRC’s availability.
Conferences: NCTRC is also available to present at conferences. Conference planning committees and leads are welcome to complete the Conference Presentation Request Form found on the NCTRC website and email it back to nctrc@nctrc.org. A Credentialing Specialist will get back to you with NCTRC’s availability.
Credly by Pearson provides National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) with a comprehensive platform for issuing, managing, and sharing digital credentials, from badge creation to tracking and verification.
NCTRC is pleased to partner with Credly by Pearson to provide a digital badging program to allow certificants and others to validate and showcase personal skills and earned credentials beyond traditional certificates. Follow the instructions in the email from NCTRC via Credly to claim your earned badge.
Once you earn a badge from NCTRC, you will receive an email notification from Credly (admin@credly.com) with instructions for claiming your badge and setting up your account. Accept your badge and start sharing it. For additional details, please view the NCTRC Badge Earner Guide.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) is pleased to partner with Credly by Pearson to offer a digital badging program.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC) is pleased to partner with Credly by Pearson to offer a digital badging program.
Share your digital badge with colleagues on social media, embed it into your email signature to show clients, colleagues, and employers that your knowledge is up to date, or add it to your resume or website for full visibility of your professional story.
Digital badges can be shared on social media accounts and displayed on a learner’s digital resume, e-Portfolio, website, and email signature.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) is pleased to partner with Credly by Pearson to offer a digital badging program.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) is pleased to partner with Credly by Pearson to provide digital badges as a trusted method for real-time verification beyond the traditional paper certificate.
Please visit NCTRC.org, and log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal by entering your personal Username and Password. Begin the process by updating your Profile information. Please be sure that NCTRC has your current, preferred email address. Then proceed to the Annual Maintenance Renewal option under ‘Applications’. Complete the ‘Eligibility Questions’ and proceed to checkout to pay the fee and finalize the submission process. The Annual Maintenance option will become available through your account on the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal about 6 months prior to your annual expiration date.
Your updated certificate is immediately available to download and print upon completing the renewal process on your Dashboard Profile page through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal. Log into your account and on the Dashboard Profile, select “CTRS® Certificate”. Please view the NCTRC video tutorial: How to Print Certificates for further assistance. CTRSs who maintain certification will also retain their CTRS digital badge.
If your Annual Maintenance application is past due, log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal and follow the instructions to complete the Annual Maintenance Application process, including submission of applicable fees due. Please contact the NCTRC office if you have questions regarding your personal annual expiration date and recertification due date, including fees that are due.
Once certified, each Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) follows a five-year certification cycle.
Annual Expiration Date: The annual expiration date is the date by which a CTRS must submit the Annual Maintenance application and fee for each year within the five-year certification cycle. To maintain certification and keep their certification status active, each CTRS is required to complete annual maintenance. Log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal to check on your annual expiration date and complete the application process on time.
Recertification Due Date: The Recertification due date is the date by which a CTRS must submit the Recertification application and fee which occurs in the fifth year of an individual’s certification cycle. The recertification application and fee are due by the posted expiration date on an individual’s MY NCTRC LOGIN account. To maintain certification and keep your CTRS credential active, log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal to check on your recertification expiration date and complete the application process on time.
CTRSs who maintain certification will also retain their CTRS digital badge – allowing others to confirm the current authenticity of their certification. Log into your personal account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal to check your annual expiration date and complete the application process on time. The annual maintenance application and fee are due by the expiration date posted in your personal account.
Each Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) is required to recertify every five years to demonstrate their continuing professional knowledge and competence in recreational therapy. Option #1 – Education & Experience. Option #2 – NCTRC Certification Exam. Review the Maintaining Your Credential: Recertification page at NCTRC.org for more details.
The recertification application and fee are due by the posted expiration date on an individual’s MY NCTRC LOGIN account. To maintain certification and keep your CTRS® credential active, log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal to check on your recertification expiration date and complete the application process on time. CTRSs are sent recertification deadline reminders via email, so it is important for each individual to keep your MY NCTRC LOGIN profile up to date with the most current contact information.
The Recertification application must be submitted by the recertification due date. Log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal to access your “My Dashboard Profile” and select the Recertification – Education and Work Experience application under Applications for the CTRS. Follow the instructions posted on the Recertification application. Be sure to pay the required fees during the checkout process.
You may submit your Recertification application up to 12 months prior to the end of your five-year cycle. If you submit even 6 months early, you will be notified if you have not met the requirements and you may then earn additional continuing education credit before your certification expires.
Certificants may upload and save records of continuing education to their Recertification – Education and Work Experience application. Please note, if you save records of continuing education to this application as storage, NCTRC will not review the content unless the application is selected for audit.
CTRSs who maintain certification will also retain their CTRS digital badge – allowing others to confirm the current authenticity of their certification. Log into your personal account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal to check your recertification due date and complete the application process on time. The recertification application and fee are due by the expiration date posted in your personal account.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) wants to support CTRSs, recreational therapists, activity professionals, and practitioners from a variety of professions in their search for continuing education opportunities that align with the current NCTRC Job Analysis.
CEUs help CTRSs and other professionals demonstrate their continuing professional knowledge and competence, comply with industry standards and regulations, enhance their professional standing and grow their careers, and improve their ability to serve patients and clients effectively.
NCTRC pre-approved continuing education session content provides educational training for those looking to refine or enhance their skills within a particular subject matter, specific populations, and service sectors.
Learn in confidence knowing that NCTRC has pre-approved continuing education session content from various conferences, workshops, online and on-demand courses offered by a multitude of organizations and continuing education providers.
For detailed information, review the CTRS & Professional Guide to NCTRC Pre-approved Continuing Education.
It is the responsibility of the CTRS to acquire and maintain official documentation of continuing education credit (certificates of completion). Certificants may upload and save records of continuing education to the Recertification – Education and Experience application available on the dashboard profile at MY NCTRC LOGIN. The content of continuing education opportunities must relate directly to the current NCTRC Job Analysis Study. For detailed information on recertification requirements, download and review the NCTRC Certification Standards.
NCTRC offers an optional Continuing Education Pre-Approval application for CTRSs to use in preparation for recertification. This application is available for CTRSs who are considering using the education and experience option for recertification. NCTRC offers CTRSs the option to submit a Continuing Education Pre-Approval application for review prior to submitting their Recertification application. This application available on the dashboard profile through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal.
NCTRC pre-approved continuing education session content meets NCTRC Standards and is directly related to the NCTRC Job Analysis. NCTRC pre-approves continuing education session content from various conferences, workshops, online, and on-demand courses.
The NCTRC Organizational Continuing Education (CE) Session Content Pre-approval Program reviews professional training, education, and learning opportunities to determine if the session content aligns with the NCTRC Job Analysis. Some pre-approved CE session content includes specialized knowledge and skills that are distinctive to specific populations and service sectors, meeting focused continuing education for CTRSs interested in applying to NCTRC for Specialization Area Designation.
The Internship Supervision for Continuing Education hours will be awarded to the primary CTRS® supervisor only when the minimum 14-week, 560- hour internship has been completed. Credit will not be awarded for internship supervision less than the required weeks and hours.
All fields of the required form must be completed, signed, and submitted only during the Recertification audit process. NCTRC suggests the CTRS site supervisor complete the Internship Supervision for Continuing Education documentation at time of internship. Retain the completed form with your continuing education materials for submission if selected for audit during the Recertification process.
Certain continuing education will not be accepted toward NCTRC Recertification. Continuing education submitted for recertification must align with the current NCTRC Job Analysis and meet recertification requirements as outlined in the NCTRC Certification Standards.
Certifcants who do not have enough continuing education and work experience to meet recertification requirements may follow the other recertification option: NCTRC Certification Exam. In this option, an individual must re-take and pass the NCTRC Certification Exam prior to their recertification expiration date to demonstrate their continuing professional knowledge and competence and meet recertification requirements.
As part of the CTRS Recertification application process, a random percentage of applications will be selected for audit.
Here’s what you need to know about the audit process:
For more information, view and download the NCTRC Certification Standards.
Please refer to the EXAM FAQs under the New Applicant section.
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) offers Specialization Area Designation as a direct extension of the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) credential for individuals who qualify. The Specialization Area Designation on the CTRS credential is used to indicate advanced knowledge, skill, recreational therapy experience and focused continuing education within a specified area of practice. It is not a separate certification.
There are seven Specialization Area Designations: Adaptive Sports and Recreation; Behavioral Health; Community Inclusion Services; Developmental Disabilities; Geriatrics; Pediatrics; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Certificants with an active CTRS credential are eligible to apply for specialization in one or more of the designation areas noted above during a certificant’s recertification period.
Selecting a Specialization Area Designation is both a personal and professional choice. It is best to identify the specialization area that will provide you with opportunities for growth and learning, advancement, increased competence, as well as provide intrinsic reward. Start by reading about the distinctive skills, knowledge, and abilities defined within each specified area of practice. Certificants choosing to submit the Specialization Area Designation application during their recertification process must submit evidence denoting experience and focused continuing education in the specified area of practice.
To apply for Specialization Area Designation, requirements include: CTRS Active Status; 5000 hours of Professional Work Experience in TR/RT in Specialization Area (HR Verification Required); 75 hours of Continuing Education specific to the Specialization Area within the 5-year cycle geared toward the Job Analysis (CE documents required). Review the NCTRC Certification Standards for complete details.
The Specialization Area Designation application is available through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal under Recertification – Education and Professional Experience application.
Specialization Area Designation is added to the CTRS certificate and CTRSs will receive a digital badge. Certificants are welcome to download and/or print a copy of their CTRS® certificate with Specialization Area Designation by logging into the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal. Log into your account through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal and on the Dashboard Profile, please select CTRS Certificate. Please view the NCTRC video tutorial: How to Print Certificates for further assistance.
NCTRC® provides digital badges to those who earn Specialization Area Designation to help CTRSs communicate their earned credentials to peers, employers, recruiters, and professional networks. The digital badge is a way to shine a spotlight on your skills and get recognized for specialization. To learn more about how to claim, use, and share your badge(s), please view the NCTRC Badge Earner Guide.
You may sign: Name, CTRS-Specialization in (name of your specialization area). You may also include your CTRS and Specialization Area Designation digital badges in your email signature as a way to verify your credentials. To learn more about how to claim, use, and share your badge(s), please view the NCTRC Badge Earner Guide.
CTRSs who hold Specialization Area Designation in one or more areas are required to complete annual maintenance and recertification for both their CTRS® certification and Specialization Area Designation.
Access Specialization Area Designation renewal applications and submit payment through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal.
Reentry is a process whereby certain individuals whose certification recently expired, may qualify for eligibility to take the NCTRC Certification Exam to regain their CTRS credential. Successful passing of the NCTRC Certification Exam is a requirement of the CTRS credentialing process.
The Reentry period extends for two-years immediately following the five-year active certification cycle. The candidate is eligible to apply for Reentry to take the NCTRC Certification Exam within two years immediately following expiration of their CTRS certification.
NCTRC’s Reentry Program is designed for individuals whose certification recently expired. Individuals may register to take the NCTRC Certification Exam, without needing to meet the current educational and professional experience requirements for initial certification. The NCTRC Certification Exam must be scheduled to be administered within the two years immediately following expiration of an individual’s CTRS certification. Reentry candidates must submit a completed NCTRC Exam Registration Application and required fees. Please review the information about Reentry deadlines and fees. Contact NCTRC to apply for reentry eligibility to take the NCTRC Certification Exam.
Along with an official certificate, all individuals who earn the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) credential will receive a digital badge. The CTRS digital badge is a secure, web-enabled credential containing verified information about the earner’s professional achievements. The digital badge serves to validate and showcase professional skills and competencies beyond traditional certificates and are designed to be easily shareable and verifiable. To learn more about how to claim, use, and share your badge(s), please view the NCTRC Badge Earner Guide.
If you were once certified by NCTRC as a CTRS, but are outside the reentry period, please review the NCTRC Certification Standards for “Options To Regain Certification For Individuals Previously Certified Who Are Outside The Reentry Period”.
