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29-1125.00 - Recreational Therapists


Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
18,600
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
20,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
+2,200
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+12%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
  • Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
  • Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
  • Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
  • Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
  • Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
  • Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
  • Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
  • Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
  • Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
  • Develop discharge plans for patients.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Psychology
  • 89%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Therapy and Counseling
  • 84%
    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 83%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 English Language
  • 81%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Education and Training
  • 78%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 69%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Administration and Management
  • 68%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Clerical
  • 62%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 60%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Philosophy and Theology
  • 57%
    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 57%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Fine Arts
  • 52%
    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 52%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Communications and Media
  • 52%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Cameras
  • 35 millimeter cameras
  • Digital camcorders
  • Digital cameras
 String instruments
  • Acoustic guitars
 Target games and equipment
  • Archery bows
  • Skeet shooting equipment
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Audio tape recorders
  • Compact disk CD players
  • Digital audio recorders
 Field sports equipment
  • Baseball bats
  • Baseballs
  • Footballs
  • Softballs
 Racquet and court sports equipment
  • Basketballs
  • Tennis rackets
  • Volleyballs
 Pedal powered vehicles
  • Bicycles
 Bowling equipment and supplies and accessories
  • Bowling balls
 Recreational watercraft
  • Canoes
  • Kayaks
  • Recreational rowboats
  • Recreational sailboats
 Recreational equipment
  • Croquet sets
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Musical instrument parts and accessories
  • Digital drumsticks
  • Electronic metronomes
 Percussion instruments
  • Drum sets
  • Handbells
 Keyboard instruments
  • Electronic keyboards
  • Pianos
 Rehabilitation exercise devices and equipment
  • Exercise bicycles
  • Free weights
  • Therapeutic treadmills
  • Therapeutic weight machines
 Fishing tackle
  • Fishing poles
 Hydrotherapy products
  • Fluidotherapy equipment
 Golf equipment
  • Golf clubs
 Woodwind instruments
  • Harmonicas
 Communication aids for the physically challenged
  • Headpointers
 Patient transport products
  • Motorized wheelchairs
  • Racing wheelchairs
 Classroom and fine art paint and mediums and applicators and accessories
  • Oil painting brushes
 Patient lifts
  • Patient hoists
 Table games and equipment
  • Ping pong paddles
  • Pool cues
  • Shuffleboard equipment
 Clay and modeling compounds and ceramics equipment and accessories
  • Pottery wheels
 Skiing and snowboarding equipment
  • Snow skis
 Surf and swim equipment and accessories
  • Water skis
 Wood crafts
  • Wood carving tools
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer game or entertainment software
  • Avid Technology Sibelius
  • Hyperscore
  • MakeMusic Finale
  • Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
  • Steinberg Cubase Pro
 Data management and query software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Patient electronic medical record EMR software
 Utility and device driver software
  • Speech recognition software
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Unknown
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Longwood University
 Programs