How To Become A Recreational Therapy Aide: What It Is and Career Path

What is a recreational therapy aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Holly Eichner Ph.D.

The average recreational therapy aide salary is $50,346. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an rehabilitation science major. It usually takes 6-12 months of experience to become a recreational therapy aide. Recreational therapy aides with a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a recreational therapy aide?

Holly Eichner Ph.D.

Program Director, University of Toledo

In the field of Recreational Therapy, diversity, creativity, and flexibility are essential. When working in healthcare and helping professions individuals need to remember we are working with people who are more than their diagnosis, they come to us with a variety of life experiences. Increasing your awareness of how the social determinants of health impact health outcomes can help you negotiate barriers that could inhibit the healing process.

ScoreRecreational Therapy AideUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $50,346

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 3.27%

Black or African American 6.53%

Hispanic or Latino 10.21%

Unknown 4.49%

White 74.73%

Gender

female 76.10%

male 23.90%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a recreational therapy aide

Explore recreational therapy aide education requirements

Most common recreational therapy aide degrees

Bachelor's

61.4 %

Associate

15.8 %

High School Diploma

7.9 %

Start to develop specific recreational therapy aide skills

Skills	Percentages
Recreational Therapy	31.91%
Patients	24.57%
CPR	11.77%
Compassion	10.52%
Music Therapy	8.98%

Complete relevant recreational therapy aide training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New recreational therapy aides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a recreational therapy aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real recreational therapy aide resumes.

Research recreational therapy aide duties and responsibilities

Work with MDS coordinator and interview residents for annual MDS sections and care planning.
Counsele and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
Assist recreation therapists in planning and implementing recreation-base treatment programs to patients.
Coordinate rehabilitation practices through recreational activities

Prepare your recreational therapy aide resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your recreational therapy aide resume.

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