National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®) supports state and provincial efforts to pursue legal regulation of practice of recreational therapy and is proud to co-lead the Joint Task Force for Licensure with the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.
The purpose of the Joint Task Force for Licensure is to promote and support licensure of qualified recreational therapists.
Representatives from the many US states and Canadian provinces meet regularly to share updates, successes, challenges, and resources related to this topic.
To learn more about NCTRC’s stance on this topic, please review the “NCTRC Position Paper on the Legal Regulation of the Practice of Recreation Therapy”.
As of 2025, a license is required to practice recreational therapy in the following locations:
Contact the licensing boards for specific requirements and detailed information.
