Program Overview

Certificate in Recreation Therapy

The Recreation Therapy Certificate is a meaningful, hands-on career opportunity that changes lives. It uses activity-based interventions, such as sports, arts, music, and outdoor recreation, to support individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or other challenges.

What is Recreation Therapy?

Recreation therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a holistic, client-centered approach that improves physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. Recreation therapists work in hospitals, schools, rehab centers, and community programs to help people regain independence, build confidence, and improve their quality of life.

Why Choose This Certificate?

This program is open to all majors and is perfect for students in health sciences, psychology, social work, education, or kinesiology fields. The certificate provides hands-on learning and real-world applications, and it meets the coursework requirements for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Professional (CTRS) credential, a nationally recognized certification that opens doors to exciting career opportunities in recreation therapy.

Career Opportunities

With this certificate, students will be prepared to work in a variety of in-demand settings, including:

• Hospitals & Rehab Centers: Help patients recover through play, recreation, and leisure-based activities.
• Mental & Behavioral Health Facilities: Support mental wellness and coping strategies.
• Schools & Community Programs: Design inclusive activities for children and adults with disabilities.
• Long-Term Care & Assisted Living: Improve quality of life for older adults.
• Outdoor & Adaptive Recreation: Work with parks, nonprofits, and adventure therapy programs.

Why Choose Our Program?

The Recreation Therapy program at Western Washington University is one-of-a-kind in the Pacific Northwest. It offers top exam pass rates, strong career outcomes, and a foundation for graduate degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and other healthcare fields.

Certificate Requirements

The Certificate in Recreation Therapy requires 23-37 credits. For students interested in recreation therapy without certification, the requirements include:

• Core Requirements (12 Credits):
  • RECR 274: Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation (3 credits)
  • RECR 375: Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation (4 credits)
  • RECR 376: Therapeutic Recreation Program Design (5 credits)
• Electives (Choose 3 of the following courses; 11-13 credits):
  • RECR 330: Critical Disability Studies (5 credits)
  • RECR 360: Professional Preparation (3 credits)
  • RECR 380: Therapeutic Recreation Principles, Practices and Techniques (5 credits)
  • RECR 421: Therapeutic Recreation Trends and Issues (3 credits)

For students interested in taking the NCTRC exam and earning the CTRS credential, the requirements include 7 courses (35 credits), including:

• RECR 274: Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation (3 credits)
• RECR 360: Professional Preparation (3 credits)
• RECR 375: Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation (4 credits)
• RECR 376: Therapeutic Recreation Program Design (5 credits)
• RECR 380: Therapeutic Recreation Principles, Practices and Techniques (5 credits)
• RECR 421: Therapeutic Recreation Trends and Issues (3 credits)
• RECR 472: Internship (12 Credits)