Experience as a volunteer or part-time aide, along with education and work experience, are needed to obtain certification.
Most people become interested in recreation therapy because they have compassion for those who need help. To be a successful recreational therapist, you must be kind and gentle when providing therapy to clients, as much as you should enjoy and be enthusiastic about the activities in which you involve your clients. You will also need patience and a positive attitude. Since this is people-oriented work, therapists must be able to relate to many different people in a variety of settings. They must be able to deal assertively and politely with other health care workers, such as doctors and nurses, as well as with the clients themselves and their families. In addition, successful therapists must be creative and have strong communication and listening skills in order to develop and explain activities to patients.
- Addiction Therapists
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerobics Instructors and Fitness Trainers
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Aromatherapists
- Athletic Directors
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Ayurvedic Doctors and Practitioners
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biofeedback Therapists
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinic Managers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Community Health Workers
- Community Nutrition Educators
- Composers and Arrangers
- Conflict Resolution Specialists
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Directors of Volunteers
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Elder Law Attorneys
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Ethnoscientists
- Exercise Physiologists
- Fitness Directors
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Herbalists
- Histologic Technicians
- HIV/AIDS Counselors and Case Managers
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Homeopaths
- Horticultural Therapists
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Human Services Workers
- Hypnotherapists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Massage Therapists
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Ethicists
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Multimedia Sound Workers
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Conductors and Directors
- Music Journalists
- Music Librarians
- Music Producers
- Music Teachers
- Music Therapists
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Music Video Directors and Producers
- Music Video Editors
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Musicians
- Myotherapists
- Naturopaths
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nonprofit Social Service Directors
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Personal Care Aides
- Personal Trainers
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Education Teachers
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Pop/Rock Musicians
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreation Workers
- Reflexologists
- Registered Nurses
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Sign Language and Oral Interpreters
- Singers
- Ski Resort Workers
- Social Workers
- Songwriters
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Equipment Managers
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Sports Trainers
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Tutors and Trainers
- Urologists
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors