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Kraena Pre-Health
Career Library

Therapy & Rehab

Recreational Therapist (CTRS)

Treats through activity — movement, art, games, outings — to rebuild function and confidence.

Years after high school

4

Degree

Bachelor's degree

Entrance exam

None

Median pay

$61,960 national median for recreational therapists (BLS, May 2025).

What the job is actually like

Running group and individual sessions built around activity: adaptive sports for a spinal injury patient, a memory-focused music group in dementia care, community outings that rebuild social confidence after psychiatric hospitalisation.

The path

  1. 014 year bachelor's degree in recreational or therapeutic recreation
  2. 02Supervised internship
  3. 03CTRS certification through NCTRC
  4. 04State licensure where required

Good fit if

  • You want therapeutic work that does not look clinical
  • You are creative and comfortable leading groups
  • Quality of life matters to you as much as clinical outcomes

Think twice if

  • You want a large job market with openings everywhere
  • You need strong pay for a four-year degree
  • You would be discouraged when the role is undervalued or cut

Similar paths worth comparing

Physical Therapist (DPT)

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Occupational Therapist (OT)

Helps people regain the ability to do the everyday activities that matter to them.

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Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

Treats communication and swallowing disorders across every age group.

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All salary figures here are median annual wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 — the most recent full national dataset. 'Median' means half of workers earn more and half earn less. Three things to keep in mind: (1) pay varies enormously by state, city, setting, and experience — a nurse in California and a nurse in rural Alabama earn very different salaries; (2) training lengths are typical, not guaranteed, and programs differ; (3) these numbers change every year. Always verify current figures at bls.gov/ooh before making a decision. For context, the BLS median wage for all U.S. occupations was $50,980, while healthcare practitioner and technical occupations had a median of $86,530 — one of the reasons health care is such a stable field.