To become a therapeutic recreation specialist, complete post-secondary training, gain work experience, complete the job interview process, and work in the field. The job involves working with people who are disabled or recovering from illness or injury through recreational activities. It’s important to have patience and enjoy helping others. The primary requirement is completing a post-secondary education program, and related work experience is gained through job placement programs. When applying for a job, review your resume and cover letter, and be concise in your answers. In the first job, tasks are basic, but observing colleagues and supervisors can help advance to management roles. Additional academic credentials may be required.
There are four steps required to become a therapeutic recreation specialist: post-secondary training, gain work experience, complete the job interview process, and work as a therapeutic recreation specialist. A therapeutic recreation specialist works with people who are developmentally disabled or who are recovering from a sudden illness or injury. Through the use of recreational activities, the therapist can help clients strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and learn new skills.
People interested in rehabilitation science are patient and enjoy helping people find this type of work rewarding. Once you become an expert in therapeutic recreation, it’s important to realize that almost all of the initiative will be provided by you. In many cases, the patient or client is unable to determine a course of action and implement it. People who get energy from others run the risk of burning out after several years in that role.
The primary requirement to become a therapeutic recreation specialist is to complete a post-secondary education program. This type of program is available at a wide variety of community and career colleges. Look for schools associated with a rehabilitation center. The opportunity for work placements, volunteer roles and guest lectures increases if the center is located nearby.
Related work experience is usually gained through a job placement program. The best programs to become a therapeutic recreation specialist have formal internship or cooperative learning terms. This type of work is usually scheduled during the standard working day, but may include weekends depending on resource availability.
When applying for a job as a therapeutic recreation specialist, review your resume and cover letter, double check for grammar or spelling errors. The employer usually has a standard list of questions and is looking for complete and concise answers. Remember that everything you say will be noted and reviewed. Think about your answers, stay calm and answer the question that was asked.
In your first job as a therapeutic recreation specialist, the tasks assigned are usually quite basic and routine. It’s an opportunity to get used to the work environment, find out where materials and supplies are stored, as well as internal procedures. Take time to observe the activities of your colleagues and supervisors. After five to ten years, many people want to advance their careers into supervisory or management roles. In many organizations, additional academic credentials are required. This may include management courses, certificates or specialist certificates in therapeutic recreation.
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