Find answers to commonly asked questions by employers of CTRSs and recreational therapists.
Recreational Therapy (RT) is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses, disabling conditions, and/or adverse circumstances to promote psychological and physical health, recovery, and well-being. Recreational Therapy aims to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate the client’s level of functioning and independence in life activities. (ATRA, 2025)
Recreational therapy improves quality of life and productivity for individuals across the lifespan.
Recreational Therapists are skilled healthcare providers who utilize a systematic process, evidence-based interventions, and purposeful activities to help clients achieve well-being. Recreational Therapists work in a variety of clinical and community settings—from schools, to hospitals, to community programs and beyond—and utilize their unique expertise to help clients overcome barriers to well-being and/or participation in meaningful activities. (ATRA, 2025)
The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential offered by National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) indicates to employers and the public that the CTRS is a qualified professional providing recreational therapy services, having met the specific educational and professional experience requirements, in addition to passing the NCTRC Certification Exam.
It is documented that CTRSs increase both the effectiveness and efficiency of recreational therapy services in comparison to noncertified individuals, significantly contributing to the expected outcomes of the healthcare delivery system. Federal agencies, national and international regulatory and accreditation organizations recognize the CTRS as the benchmark credential for recreational therapists.
Along with an official certificate, all individuals who earn the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) credential will receive a digital badge. The digital badge allows CTRSs to broadcast their achievement to colleagues, employers, and recruiters and further enhance their professional profile.
Through the NCTRC digital badging program CTRSs and other professionals can use earned digital badges to validate and showcase personal skills and earned credentials beyond traditional certificates.
Digital badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
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.
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.
In today’s demanding employment market, professional certification through National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) indicates to employers and the public that the CTRS® has met specific educational and professional experience requirements, in addition to passing the NCTRC Certification Exam.
Professional certification is valuable – the CTRS credential is globally recognized as an indicator of a qualified provider within the field of therapeutic recreation. Professional certification through NCTRC is available for qualified individuals around the world.
The CTRS has become the professional standard that exemplifies each professional’s dedication to quality standards and excellence in practice. Recent research suggests that nearly 70% of CTRSs are either required or encouraged by their employer to maintain their credential.
For additional details and occupation-specific information, review the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) O*NET Ally listing for Recreational Therapists.
As of 2024, a license is required to practice recreational therapy in the following locations:
Contact the licensing boards for specific requirements and detailed information.
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.
NCTRC was founded to protect the consumer of recreational therapy services and the public at large, resulting in many benefits to the public, the profession, the individual practitioner, and the organization.
The TR profession has benefited significantly from the credentialing activities and research of NCTRC.
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.
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.
As an employer, we encourage you to support the CTRSs who work in your organization to stay actively certified. Once certified, each CTRS follows a five-year certification cycle.
NCTRC pre-approves continuing education session content for CTRSs, activity professionals, and others to fulfill recertification and licensing requirements. For detailed information, have CTRSs review the CTRS & Professional Guide to NCTRC Pre-approved Continuing Education.
Maintaining the CTRS credential is valuable. Encourage CTRSs in your organization to check their certification cycle and annual maintenance due dates through the MY NCTRC LOGIN portal.
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.
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.
NCTRC awards recognition of advanced knowledge and skill in seven specialized areas of recreational therapy practice. Specialization is well recognized within professional practice and has become the norm within the health and human service delivery system today.
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.
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 skills and get recognized for specialization. To learn more about how to claim, use, and share digital badge(s), please view the NCTRC Badge Earner Guide.
CTRSs who hold Specialization Area Designation from NCTRC may sign: Name, CTRS-Specialization in (name of earned specialization area). Certificants may also include their CTRS and Specialization Area Designation digital badges in email signatures as a way to verify and showcase credentials. To learn more about how to claim, use, and share digital badge(s), please view the NCTRC Badge Earner Guide.
Full-time work experience in TR is not necessary to complete the recertification requirements. Along with the 50 hours of continuing education, a CTRS must have 480 hours of therapeutic recreation professional experience to meet recertification requirements.
NCTRC requires completion of 50 hours of continuing education completed within the five-year certification cycle (continuing education does not have to be awarded in CEU credit). If a CEU credit is awarded as 0.1 (including decimal), this will count as one (1) clock hour toward 50 hours of continuing education required. Please add continuing education hours in clock or contact hours.
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.
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.
The NCTRC Certification Standards are continuously reviewed and updated to facilitate the credentialing process and to remain current. NCTRC routinely notifies all CTRSs and educators regarding specific changes to the NCTRC Certification Standards through email announcements and newsletter postings. Refer to NCTRC.org for the most updated information.
