How to hire a therapeutic recreation assistant

How to hire a therapeutic recreation assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step therapeutic recreation assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a therapeutic recreation assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new therapeutic recreation assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your therapeutic recreation assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a therapeutic recreation assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a therapeutic recreation assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a therapeutic recreation assistant that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of therapeutic recreation assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Therapeutic Recreation Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Therapeutic Recreation Assistant	Recreation workers design and lead recreational and leisure activities for groups in volunteer agencies or recreation facilities, such as playgrounds, parks, camps, aquatic centers, and senior centers. They may lead activities such as arts and crafts, dance, sports, adventure programs, music, and camping.	$7-18
   Activities/Volunteer	An activity volunteer is responsible for supporting community activities for the benefit of the citizens and social development in general. Activity volunteers assist in fundraising activities, coordinating with other organizations for sponsorship, recruiting target audience, planning the program outline, and releasing promotional materials, press releases, and media marketing... Show more	$12-19
   Day Camp Counselor	The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking... Show more	$9-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Autism
   • Compassion
   • Data Collection
   • Patient Care
   • Data Entry
   • CPR
   • CPI
   • Patient Behavior
   • Incident Reports
   • Vital Signs
   • Therapeutic Programs
   • Alzheimer
   • Dementia Care

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage one-on-one and group social and physical sessions with long-term nursing and short-term rehabilitation residents
   • PAR train & CPR certify.
   • Used CPR skills and other medical skills to treat many different situations.
   • Specialize in the Alzheimer's lock care unit and plan daily therapeutic activities for residents.
   • Coordinate and aid in the daily physical and mental stimulation of people suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
   • Direct psychiatric intervention with adolescent psychiatric and criminally-incline patients in the form of group and individual counseling and teaching sessions.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your therapeutic recreation assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A therapeutic recreation assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, therapeutic recreation assistants' average salary in louisiana is 60% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level therapeutic recreation assistants 59% less than senior-level therapeutic recreation assistants.
   • Certifications. A therapeutic recreation assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a therapeutic recreation assistant's salary.

   Average therapeutic recreation assistant salary

   $12.25hourly

   $25,481 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level therapeutic recreation assistant salary

   $16,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a therapeutic recreation assistant job description

   A therapeutic recreation assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a therapeutic recreation assistant job description:

   Therapeutic recreation assistant job description example

   Job DescriptionJob description

   The primary purpose of the Therapeutic Recreation Assistant is to provide recreational activities for residents in a 120 bed center by assisting in planning, conducting evaluation and participating in one on one and group activity programs. Ensures a safe environment and comply with center policies and state/federal requirements.

   Education & Qualifications of the Therapeutic Recreation Therapist Assistant:

   *Must have TRD (Therapeutic Recreation Degree Certificate) or Degree equivalent*.

   Graduate of an accredited high school or GED preferred.

   Artistic background or previous instruction from a certified activity consultant

   Ability to lead group programs

   Ability to work independently or part of a group.

   Effectively communicate with others.

   Experience: Recreation Therapist

   Previous long-term care or experience working with the elderly or disabled is desirable

   Computer experience using Windows based software preferred.

   Specific Requirements: Recreation Therapist

   Must possess the ability to make independent decision when circumstances warrant such action.

   Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, resident, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.

   Knowledge of elderly ill and/or disabled.

   Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to help when needed.

   Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.

   Basic understanding of following step-by-step procedures.

   Follows and understands written and oral directions.

   Knowledge of equipment used in long-term care such as wheelchairs and walkers.

   Physical and Sensory Requirements

   Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.

   Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.

   Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with resident personnel, and support agencies.

   Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 50 (fifty) pounds to a minimum height of 4 (four) feet and be able to push, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 2 (two) feet.

   May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

   Apply today to be our Recreation Therapist Assistant and part of our amazing team.

   Job Type: Full-time

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find therapeutic recreation assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any therapeutic recreation assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level therapeutic recreation assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your therapeutic recreation assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit therapeutic recreation assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting therapeutic recreation assistants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new therapeutic recreation assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the therapeutic recreation assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new therapeutic recreation assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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