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Recreational therapy aide vs certified recreational therapist

The differences between recreational therapy aides and certified recreational therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a recreational therapy aide and a certified recreational therapist. Additionally, a certified recreational therapist has an average salary of $61,472, which is higher than the $50,346 average annual salary of a recreational therapy aide.

The top three skills for a recreational therapy aide include recreational therapy, patients and CPR. The most important skills for a certified recreational therapist are patients, therapeutic recreation, and rehabilitation.

Recreational therapy aide vs certified recreational therapist overview

Recreational Therapy AideCertified Recreational Therapist
Yearly salary$50,346$61,472
Hourly rate$24.20$29.55
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs50,59156,515
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Recreational therapy aide vs certified recreational therapist salary

Recreational therapy aides and certified recreational therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recreational Therapy AideCertified Recreational Therapist
Average salary$50,346$61,472
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $71,000Between $41,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between recreational therapy aide and certified recreational therapist education

There are a few differences between a recreational therapy aide and a certified recreational therapist in terms of educational background:

Recreational Therapy AideCertified Recreational Therapist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorRehabilitation ScienceRehabilitation Science
Most common collegeDuke UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Recreational therapy aide vs certified recreational therapist demographics

Here are the differences between recreational therapy aides' and certified recreational therapists' demographics:

Recreational Therapy AideCertified Recreational Therapist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 23.9% Female, 76.1%Male, 19.6% Female, 80.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between recreational therapy aide and certified recreational therapist duties and responsibilities

Recreational therapy aide example 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
  • Perform orthopedic rehabilitation and adolescent psych rehabilitation.
  • Perform orthopedic rehabilitation and adolescent psych rehabilitation.

Certified recreational therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator care, intubation, arterial line placement, mechanical ventilation, BIPAP, and CPAP.
  • Provide instruction and awareness on use of adaptive equipment.
  • Function as a PRN CTRS for an adult inpatient psychiatric hospital.
  • Research and purchase adaptive equipment, activity supplies and daily needs for the program.
  • Lead and co-lead therapeutic psychiatric rehabilitation groups.
  • Create policy and procedure manual for rehabilitation unit van.
  • Show more

Recreational therapy aide vs certified recreational therapist skills

Common recreational therapy aide skills
  • Recreational Therapy, 32%
  • Patients, 25%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Compassion, 11%
  • Music Therapy, 9%
  • Therapeutic Recreation Programs, 8%
Common certified recreational therapist skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Therapeutic Recreation, 17%
  • Rehabilitation, 12%
  • Recreation Therapy, 10%
  • CTRS, 10%
  • Interdisciplinary, 8%

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