Requirements/competencies of the Field

How to Get to Where Were Going:

Academic Path

The Academic Path eligibility requirements to take the CTRS exam are a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in therapeutic recreation or a major in recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation. An official transcript must be submitted with application and verify the degree, major and coursework.

A “major in therapeutic recreation” or “major in recreation with an option in therapeutic recreation” refers to the completion of a degree which includes the following:

1. A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter hours of therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework with no less than a minimum of 15 semester or 20 quarter hours in therapeutic recreation content. A minimum of 5 courses in therapeutic recreation is required and each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours. Content specific Therapeutic Recreation coursework is required as part of the NCTRC professional eligibility requirements. The specific course content include the following areas: a) Assessment; b) TR Process; and c) Advancement of the Profession. It is recommended that each content area be addressed by a specific TR course but at a minimum, at least 50% of the course be devoted to the designated content material. Multiple courses can be used to meet a TR content area if the total amount of coverage is equal to 50% of a three credit course; AND
2. Supportive courses to include a total of 18 semester hours or 24 quarter hours of support coursework with a minimum of: (i) 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours coursework in the content area of anatomy and physiology; (ii) 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours coursework in the content area of abnormal psychology; and (iii) 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours coursework in the content area of human growth and development across the lifespan. The remaining semester hours or quarter hours of coursework must be fulfilled in the conte nt areas of social sciences and humanities; AND
3. A minimum 560-hour, fourteen (14) consecutive week field placement experience in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis Study under the supervision of both academic and agency field placement supervisors who are NCTRC CTRS certified. An acceptable field placement experience is one which is completed after the majority of required therapeutic recreation and general recreation coursework is completed as verified on the official transcript and the completed fieldwork verification form.

Academic Path - Application prior to degree completion

Applicants may apply for professional eligibility review after completion of the following conditions:

1. Enrollment in a degree program pertaining to Therapeutic Recreation/Recreation Therapy as defined by the current NCTRC standards.
2. Completion of a minimum of 90 credit hours toward degree attainment.
3. Completion of all required coursework other than the field placement requirement, as defined by the current NCTRC standards.
4. Submission of an official academic transcript denoting the completion of the above requirements.

Applicants completing this option of the Academic Path application process will be awarded NCTRC certification and the CTRS certificate upon demonstration of the following:

1. Successful completion the NCTRC exam.
2. Completion of a field placement experience in accordance with NCTRC Standards.
3. Academic degree attainment as documented by an official academic transcript.
4. Field Placement Verification Form signed by the field placement supervisor

Please note: Applying through this process will require an additional $25.00 fee. The total application fee is $425.00 when submitting the Professional Eligibility Application.