Certified recreational therapist education requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a recreational therapist?

You need a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy to become a recreational therapist. To work as a certified recreational therapist you will first need a bachelor's degree, a formal internship, and the passing of a national certification examination. Most recreational therapists have a bachelor's degree in recreational or therapeutic therapy. Coursework primarily focuses on the physical, biological, and behavioral sciences and recreation and leisure theory.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a certified recreational therapist. Certified recreational therapists usually study rehabilitation science, recreation management, or psychology. 82% of certified recreational therapists hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 161 real certified recreational therapist resumes to see exactly what certified recreational therapist education sections show.

The most common colleges for certified recreational therapists are the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi.

There are also many online certified recreational therapist courses to help get the education required to be a certified recreational therapist.

What education do you need to become a certified recreational therapist?

What degree do you need to be a certified recreational therapist?

The most common degree for certified recreational therapists is bachelor's degree, with 82% of certified recreational therapists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 5%.

Bachelor's, 82%

Master's, 11%

Associate, 5%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a certified recreational therapist?

You should major in rehabilitation science to become a certified recreational therapist. 53% of certified recreational therapists major in rehabilitation science. Other common majors for a certified recreational therapist include recreation management and psychology.

Rehabilitation Science, 53%

Recreation Management, 20%

Psychology, 3%

Business, 2%

Other Majors, 22%

Most common colleges for certified recreational therapists

Certified recreational therapists often get their degrees at University of Southern Mississippi, Eastern Kentucky University, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Here are the most common colleges for certified recreational therapists in the US based on their resumes.

Certified recreational therapist common college	Percentages
University of Southern Mississippi	10.00%
Eastern Kentucky University	8.00%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale	8.00%
Temple University	8.00%
University of Florida	6.00%

Show more common certified recreational therapist colleges

Best majors for certified recreational therapists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Rehabilitation Science	52.6%
2	Recreation Management	20.0%
3	Psychology	3.2%
4	Business	2.1%
5	Physical Therapy	2.1%

Show more common certified recreational therapist majors

Best colleges for certified recreational therapists

The best colleges for certified recreational therapists are Northwestern University, University of Maryland - College Park, and Tufts University.

A certified recreational therapist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for certified recreational therapists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become certified recreational therapists.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

2. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,310

Enrollment

28,439

3. University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$9,222

Enrollment

23,396

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

5. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Enrollment

11,559

6. SUNY College at Cortland

Cortland, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,536

Enrollment

6,325

7. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

20 best online courses for certified recreational therapists

Advertising disclosure

1. Recreate the First Ever Easter Egg from Adventure in Unity

In this one-hour, project-based course, we will recreate the first ever "Easter Egg" in game development history! Easter Eggs in video games are hidden features that can be revealed by pressing a combination of buttons, completing a task in a certain way or exploring remote or obscure areas of a game. They can be hidden messages from the programmers, hidden music tracks or art, even a complete hidden level. In this guided project, we will recreate the Easter egg secretly created by developer...

2. Introduction to Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices

This introductory course provides a framework for incorporating integrative therapies into your work with clients or patients. By the end of the course, you will be able to assess if integrative therapies are good options in specific situations, as well as educate patients and colleagues about benefits and risks. You will be confident discussing the evidence base for integrative therapies in general, with an understanding of some of the challenges of research in this area, and able to identify...

3. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy

4.7

(497)

Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...

4. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course

4.7

(291)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...

5. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches

4.6

(1,500)

Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...

6. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

4.4

(568)

How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults...

7. [Accredited] Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Counselor

4.3

(419)

Learn DBT in depth, start conducting sessions with ready to use templates, and set up counseling practice within weeks!...

8. Colombian Wood Therapy Course - Maderoterapia

4.3

(278)

Learn how to use Colombian Wood Therapy to help your clients reduce cellulite and melt fat...

9. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art

4.4

(527)

Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...

10. Deep Tissue Massage: Neuromuscular Therapy Certificate

4.4

(282)

Neuromuscular Therapy is a highly effective form of Deep Tissue Massage for pain relief (2 CEUs)...

11. Professional Cupping Therapy Massage Certificate Course 4 CE

4.7

(2,559)

Learn Cupping Therapy Massage Today to Treat Your Own Pains, Your Friends, Family Or Massage Clients Effortlessly!...

12. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Associate Life Coach

4.7

(1,026)

CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Life Coaching Associate Coach Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching...

13. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Practitioner Course

4.6

(33,796)

Become a Certified Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Practitioner and elevate your understanding of human behaviour...

14. Art Therapy: Art Therapy Exercises For Healing In Life

(384)

35 Art Therapy exercises for life happiness & stress management. Art therapy with paintings, art & affirmations...

15. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Certificate

4.6

(1,078)

Become a certified CBT practitioner and learn to use cognitive behavior therapy to improve people's mental health...

16. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Certificate

4.7

(296)

Become a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) practitioner and help people improve their mental health...

17. Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

4.1

(4,774)

Online Counselling & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training Course...

18. Tibetan Singing Bowls Sound Therapy & Sound Healing Training

4.8

(533)

Learn How To Become A Sound Healing Therapist Using Tibetan Bowls. Learn How To Work One-On-One With Clients...

19. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy

4.2

(1,022)

Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...

20. (Oxford) Diploma in Art Therapy (Extended Master Course)

4.5

(1,382)

Art Therapy : detailed (116 hours) course to help: interpret, express and resolve emotions - in detail...

Top 10 most affordable universities for certified recreational therapists

The most affordable schools for certified recreational therapists are California State University - Long Beach, brigham young university, and lehman college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for certified recreational therapists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for certified recreational therapists.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

4. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,310

Cost of attendance

19,807

5. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

6. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,796

Cost of attendance

24,514

9. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

10. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Cost of attendance

22,990

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for certified recreational therapists

The hardest universities for certified recreational therapists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Maryland - College Park, and Tufts University.

Some great schools for certified recreational therapists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for certified recreational therapists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,390

3. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

4. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

5. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

1,336

8. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

9. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

Admissions rate

49%

SAT average

1,345

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for certified recreational therapists

The easiest schools for certified recreational therapists to get into are AdventHealth University, barry university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a certified recreational therapist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for certified recreational therapists.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. Albertus Magnus College

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

931

10. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento, CA • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,030

Average certified recreational therapist salary by education level

According to our data, certified recreational therapists with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $64,869 annually. Certified recreational therapists with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $56,061.

Certified recreational therapist education level	Certified recreational therapist salary
High School Diploma or Less	$48,894
Bachelor's Degree	$64,869
Some College/ Associate Degree	$56,061

Certified recreational therapist education FAQs

What degree do you need to be a recreational therapist?

What is the best college for Certified Recreational Therapists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

Search for certified recreational therapist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Certified Recreational Therapist
Certified Recreational Therapist Education

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs