Recreation Therapy Certificate

This certificate is designed for people who seek employment in the recreation therapy/therapeutic recreation field and DO NOT meet one of the following:

A bachelor’s degree in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation.
A bachelor’s degree with an option in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation.
A bachelor’s degree in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation, recreation, or leisure with a combination with other fields of study (e.g., Health Studies; Recreation and Sports Management; Leisure and Tourism)
A bachelor’s degree in another field of study with a concentration/emphasis/sub-plan/option/minor/certificate in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation.

This certificate prepares people for both State and National certifications; the California Board of Recreation Therapy Certification (CBRTC; formally known as CBRPC) and National Certified Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

A baccalaureate degree is required, which may be completed concurrently, is required for the completion of the certificate program. State and National Certificate Exam requirements are varied and can change, so that it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their program of study meets the exam certificate requirements of the agency governing the certificate they wish to pursue.

This certificate program is eligible for Financial Aid. Please see the department website for required Federal disclosure information.

This certificate is state supported.

Requirements

This certificate prepares students for the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification exam. A baccalaureate degree, which may be awarded concurrently, is required for completion of this certificate program.

This certificate program is eligible for Financial Aid. Please see the department website for required Federal disclosure information.

Recreation Therapy Coursework (18 units)

Take All of the Following (15 units):
REC 351 - Foundations of Inclusive Recreation and Recreation Therapy (3 units)
*”C” or better required.
REC 451 - Management and Administration of Recreation Therapy Services (3 units) /
REC 551 - Management and Administration of Recreation Therapy Services (3 units)
REC 452 - Assessment and Documentation in Recreation Therapy (3 units) /
REC 552 - Assessment and Documentation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
REC 453 - Comprehensive Programming and Evaluation in Recreation Therapy (3 units) /
REC 553 - Comprehensive Programming and Evaluation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
REC 458 - Clinical Techniques in Recreation Therapy (3 units) /
REC 558 - Clinical Techniques in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
Choose One of the Following (3 units):
REC 455 - Recreation Therapy for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (3 units)
*”C” or better required
OR
REC 456 - Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Psychiatric Disorders (3 units)
*”C” or better required

General Recreation Coursework (9 units)

Below are recommended courses, but not limited to:

REC 469 - Disability, Culture and Society: Issues and Intervention (3 units) /
REC 569 - Disability, Culture and Society: Issues and Intervention (3 units)
REC 473 - Aging and Leisure (3 units) /
REC 573 - Aging and Leisure (3 units)
REC 340 - Leisure in Contemporary Society (3 units)
*The courses need to be approved by the advisor.

Supportive Coursework (18 units)

*In addition to the aforementioned courses, take a minimum of 5 units of upper-division courses related to the field of Recreation Therapy or related fields (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Biological Sciences, Special Education, Adaptive P.E.,& Human Services).

* A minimum of 18 units (with a minimum of 14 units in upper-division courses) are required. ANTH 319 (3 units), PSY 370 (3 units), REC 455 or REC 456 (3 units) count towards the 14 units of upper-division courses.

* If you take (or took) the equivalent courses below from other institutions (e.g., community college), such courses can be transferred with advisor’s approval.

Otherwise, a student needs to take it at CSULB.

ANTH 319 - Human Growth and Development (3 units)
BIOL 207 - Human Physiology (4 units)
BIOL 208 - Human Anatomy (4 units)
PSY 100 - General Psychology (3 units)
PSY 370 - Abnormal Psychology (3 units)

Fieldwork/Internship (6-12 units)

To be eligible for both National and State Certifications, students must complete the required hours as listed below:

*600 hrs for the National Certification and 1,000 hrs for the State Certification.

1) 600 hrs - REC 498 - Internship in Leisure Services (6-12 units) (Internship in Leisure Services)

* Needs to be supervised by a National Certified Recreational Therapist.

* If a student is supervised by a State Certified Recreational Therapist, the student will only be eligible for the State Certification.

2) 200 hrs - Either REC 485 - Field Work (3 units) (*Can be repeated up to 6 units OR on your own) and or Sociology Non-Academic Fieldwork

* Fieldwork needs to be related to RT/TR experiences - with an advisor’s approval.