Recreation Therapy

As a professional recreation therapist, you’ll plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.

Recreation therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts, drama, music and dance, sports, aquatics, and community outings to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Typical job responsibilities include:

• Helping patients learn social skills to become or remain independent
• Assessing patients’ needs using observation, medical records, tests, and discussions with other healthcare professionals and patients’ families
• Engaging patients in therapeutic activities, such as exercise, games, and community outings
• Teaching patients ways to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression
• Documenting and analyzing a patient’s progress
• Evaluating interventions for effectiveness
• Helping patients recover basic physical and mental abilities and build their confidence to socialize effectively and integrate into the community
• Working with physicians or surgeons, registered nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, teachers or occupational therapists

Occupational Trends

Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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The median annual wage for recreational therapists was $57,120 in 2023, with the top 10 percent earning more than $92,080.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Recreational therapists held approximately 16,800 jobs in 2023.

—Labor Market Analytics – Lightcast

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How can an Equivalency Path Program in Recreation Therapy impact your career? »

Join the list of accomplished recreation therapists at some of the most prestigious treatment centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including veteran hospitals, rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities, mental health facilities, senior independent living centers, skilled nursing facilities, schools, senior centers, and pediatric care facilities.

In meeting all credential requirements, you’ll also be able to sit for national and state certification exams.

Please note additional requirements are needed to fully qualify for the credential. If you’re interested in obtaining NCTRC certification (Equivalency Path), please see below for the requirements. For further information, visit the NCTRC website.

Equivalency Path:

1. Academic Degree: Completion of a bachelor degree or higher
2. Professional Content Coursework: Completion of 18 semester units on specific coursework in Recreational Therapy
3. Supportive Coursework: Completion of 18 semester units of support coursework
4. Experience in RT Practice: A minimum of 5,000 hours of paid work experience that uses the TR process, OR a minimum 1,500 hours of paid work experience that uses the TR process, if receiving supervision from a CTRS for at least 1 hour for every 10 hours worked each week.
5. Successful completion of the NCTRC Certification Exam

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Program Objectives

At the completion of the program, you'll acquire:

The knowledge to interpret the stages of human development, principles of behavioral change, and models for delivery of recreation therapy programs and services.

The utilization of effective leadership and teamwork strategies, standards of practice, assessment techniques, and documentation requirements in recreation therapy.

The ability to articulate clearly in both written and oral formats the ethical, philosophical, historical, and administrative foundations of the recreation therapy profession.

The skills to identify techniques that contribute to a culture of dignity and respect in the recreation therapy profession, based on principles of access, inclusion, and independence.

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You’ll benefit from a dynamic curriculum that immerses you in the field and gives you real-world knowledge. »

The Equivalency Path Program in Recreation Therapy is conveniently offered online with one course (REC 364) that can be taken as hybrid or online only. In order to successfully complete the program, you will need an internet connection and email capability. Courses are compatible with all major browsers and operating systems.

To complete your Equivalency Path in Recreation Therapy, simply complete six courses while maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on all required coursework.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

To be considered for admission to the program, you must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, have supportive coursework in-progress or completed, and have recreation therapy work experience.  

Applying to the Program

The application for admission to the program is open year-round. New students are admitted to the program three times a year, in fall, spring, or summer term.

How to Apply

To apply to the program, complete the application form below, as well as submit the following documents by email:

• Your current résumé
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• Request to have your official transcript(s) that indicate your degree awarded be sent to the email: erick.kong@csueastbay.edu

All documents must be emailed to Dr. Erick Kong at: erick.kong@csueastbay.edu

Cal State East Bay
Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism
ATTN: Dr. Erick Kong
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, PE 130
Hayward, CA 94542

Admission Deadlines