CAREER
Recreational Therapists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$47,710
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+8.3% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Bachelor's degree
Career
What Recreational Therapists Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.
Other Job Titles Recreational Therapists May Have
Activity Coordinator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), General Activities Therapist, Recreation Therapist, Recreational Therapist, Rehabilitation Therapist, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
- Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
- Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
- Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
- Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Recreational Therapists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (47%)
High school diploma or equivalent
20%
Some college, no degree
12%
Bachelor's degree
47%
Other*
20%
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
