Careers · Explore one path
Recreational Therapists
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 titles employers use
Activities Coordinator · Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) · General Activities Therapist · Recreation Therapist · Recreational Therapist · Recreational Therapy Program Coordinator · Rehabilitation Therapist · Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
- 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.
- Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
- Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.4 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.8 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 92%
- A master's degree 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Music or sound editing software
- Medical software
- Voice recognition software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,030
- Job openings each year
- 40
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 24.5%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2,030 | 40 | 24.5% |
| California | 1,900 | 140 | 11.8% |
| Washington | 1,660 | 150 | 10.7% |
| Texas | 1,010 | 80 | 12.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 800 | 60 | 3.9% |
| Florida | 790 | 60 | 9.7% |
| Michigan | 720 | 50 | 2.9% |
| Kansas | 680 | 50 | 3.0% |
| New Jersey | 630 | 50 | 10.5% |
| Illinois | 510 | 40 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 480 | 40 | 4.3% |
| North Carolina | 470 | 40 | 14.6% |
| Iowa | 430 | 30 | 4.9% |
| Maryland | 430 | 30 | 7.5% |
| Ohio | 420 | 30 | −2.3% |
| Colorado | 400 | 30 | 14.3% |
| Utah | 400 | 40 | 25.0% |
| Missouri | 380 | 30 | 5.6% |
| Georgia | 370 | 30 | −5.1% |
| Indiana | 350 | 30 | 9.4% |
| Wisconsin | 350 | 20 | −2.8% |
| South Carolina | 280 | 20 | 7.7% |
| Connecticut | 250 | 20 | — |
| Minnesota | 250 | 20 | 4.2% |
| Oklahoma | 220 | 20 | 4.8% |
| Tennessee | 220 | 20 | 22.2% |
| Arizona | 210 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Mississippi | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Louisiana | 190 | 10 | 5.6% |
| Kentucky | 180 | 10 | 5.9% |
| Oregon | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Massachusetts | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| New Mexico | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Alabama | 110 | 10 | — |
| Idaho | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Nevada | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| New Hampshire | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Delaware | 80 | 10 | — |
| West Virginia | 80 | 10 | — |
| Alaska | 70 | 10 | — |
| District of Columbia | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Nebraska | 70 | 10 | — |
| Arkansas | 60 | 0 | — |
| Montana | 40 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 40 | 0 | — |
| South Dakota | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Maine | 30 | 0 | — |
| Wyoming | 30 | 0 | — |
| Rhode Island | 20 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Virgin Islands | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- Degrees each year
- 144
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $23,000
The University of Texas at El Paso
- Degrees each year
- 139
- Admit rate
- 100%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Ithaca College
- Degrees each year
- 121
- Admit rate
- 70%
- Annual cost after aid
- $29,000
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Degrees each year
- 83
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 80
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of North Texas
- Degrees each year
- 76
- Admit rate
- 72%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
- Degrees each year
- 73
- Admit rate
- 75%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Temple University
- Degrees each year
- 71
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
Compare every college offering rehabilitation and therapeutic professions