CBRTC Certified Universities
CSU Fresno Dept of Recreation Administration
Why Recreation Therapy?
Recreation therapy is a rewarding career that combines health, wellness, and meaningful activities to help people improve their quality of life. Students in recreation therapy learn how to use recreation and therapeutic interventions to support individuals with physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs across a variety of settings. The field offers opportunities to work with diverse populations in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, senior communities, schools, and community programs. For students who enjoy helping others and want a career that makes a meaningful difference, recreation therapy provides a fulfilling path to positively impact the lives of others.
Student Experience
Students pursuing a degree in recreation therapy gain a combination of classroom knowledge, hands-on training, and real-world experience. Students learn about therapeutic recreation, human development, health and wellness, assessment, treatment planning, and activity-based interventions. Through internships, fieldwork, and practical experiences, students have opportunities to work directly with diverse populations in healthcare, rehabilitation, behavioral health, and community settings. This experience helps students develop the professional, clinical, and communication skills needed to become confident and effective recreation therapists.
Employment Opportunities
A career in recreation therapy offers opportunities to make a meaningful difference while working in a growing and diverse field. Recreation therapists can work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, behavioral health programs, skilled nursing facilities, senior communities, schools, and community-based organizations. The profession offers opportunities for career growth, specialization, and advancement while allowing professionals to work with individuals of all ages and abilities. Certified recreation therapists may also benefit from competitive salaries, job stability, and the flexibility to pursue employment across a variety of healthcare and human service settings.
Have your degree in Recreation Therapy? Click here to take the State of California Certified Recreation Therapy Examination.