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What is a recreation therapist and how to become one
Recreation therapists are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments.
These therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings to help maintain or improve a patient's physical, social, and emotional well-being. Educational requirements to qualify for the position include a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy or a related field such as art therapy and physical therapy.
It usually takes a person four to five years to become a recreation therapist. A small number of states within the United States require licensing. While you may not need a license in your state, most employers prefer to hire recreation therapists with the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential.
Recreation therapists' employment is projected to grow 8% in the coming years, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median pay for a normal workweek is $23.18 an hour, which equates to $48,220 a year. The position is highly rewarding, both emotionally, monetarily, and physically.
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Therapist?
Ron Precht
Senior Manager, American Massage Therapy Association
Avg. Salary $55,992
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 4%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%
Asian 3.27%
Black or African American 6.53%
Hispanic or Latino 10.21%
Unknown 4.49%
White 74.73%
Genderfemale 72.51%
male 27.49%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Recreation Therapist career paths
Key steps to become a recreation therapist
Explore recreation therapist education requirements
Start to develop specific recreation therapist skills
Skills 
Percentages Patients 26.73% CTRS 10.63% Mental Health 7.43% Rehabilitation 7.23% Patient Care 5.96% Complete relevant recreation therapist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New recreation therapists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a recreation therapist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real recreation therapist resumes.Research recreation therapist duties and responsibilities
- Manage ventilator care, intubation, arterial line placement, mechanical ventilation, BIPAP, and CPAP.
- Evaluate assigned patients to assess and document the need for therapeutic recreational interventions in order to attain rehabilitation goals.
- Obtain ABG samples when need, EKG analysis, and oxygen therapy to patients.
- Support the CTRS in planning and implementation of in- house events and community outings.
Prepare your recreation therapist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your recreation therapist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a recreation therapist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Recreation Therapist Resume templates
Build a professional Recreation Therapist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Recreation Therapist resume.
Apply for recreation therapist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a recreation therapist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Recreation Therapist Job
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Average recreation therapist salary
The average Recreation Therapist salary in the United States is $55,992 per year or $27 per hour. Recreation therapist salaries range between $36,000 and $85,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do recreation therapists rate their job?
Recreation Therapist reviews
I get to meet new people and help the ones in need
Interacting with my Residents hearing their stories .
Updated January 8, 2025
