Healthcare practitioners
Recreational therapist
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.
Median pay
$61,960
Growth to 2035
+5%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,400
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Recreational therapist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Recreational therapist: 18% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
- Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
Also called: Activities Coordinator · Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) · General Activities Therapist · Recreation Therapist · Recreational Therapist · Recreational Therapy Program Coordinator · Rehabilitation Therapist · Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Outlook and AI
Recreational therapists held 15,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 16,300 by 2035 (+5%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Recreational therapist vs. Occupational therapy assistant
- Recreational therapist vs. Psychiatric technician
- Recreational therapist vs. Occupational therapist
- Recreational therapist vs. Physical therapist assistant
- Recreational therapist vs. Occupational therapy aide
- Recreational therapist vs. Physical therapist
- Recreational therapist vs. Physical therapist aide
- Recreational therapist vs. Rehabilitation counselor
- Recreational therapist vs. Therapists, all other