Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Jobs for OPT Students
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist jobs on OPT require CTRS certification or eligibility in most clinical and community settings. Employers in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities routinely sponsor STEM-adjacent health science graduates. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable with STEM OPT if your degree qualifies, gives you real runway to secure sponsorship.
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Responsibilities:
SHIFT OPTIONS:
CTRS Sunday to Thursday 10am-6:30pm
CTRS Tuesday to Saturday 10am-6:30pm
CTRS Monday-Friday, 10am-6:30pm (For Residential Treatment Center only)
HAVENWYCK HOSPITAL (a UHS facility)
Havenwyck Hospital is a Joint Commission-accredited and licensed psychiatric hospital, overlooking Lake Galloway in Auburn Hills, Michigan. We specialize in providing comprehensive, compassionate behavioral health services to children, adolescents and adults. It is the ultimate goal of our dedicated staff to build strength, confidence and knowledge within each patient, in hopes that they may continue learning and understanding their needs and practicing self-care for the rest of their lives.
For more information, please visit us at www.havenwyckhospital.com
Position Summary:
The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is responsible for the provision of Recreational Therapy services, including assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic activity interventions and discharge leisure planning. The CTRS utilizes individual and/or group activity interventions to bring about positive changes in the client's behavior, be-it cognitive, social, emotional or physical. The CTRS educates the client in healthy coping skills, and available leisure resources to continue the client in post discharge leisure planning and involvement. The CTRS will be responsible for evaluating each client's progress and the effectiveness of therapy treatment and recording the results daily. Will attend treatment team conferences to exchange information and observations with other members of the team, as well as assisting with the completion of the initial treatment plan and progress summary updates. All therapy is under the provision of services according to the current standards of practice. If you would like to learn more about this position before applying, please contact Havenwyck Hospital at 248-373-9200.
BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Challenging and rewarding work environment
- Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
- Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plan
- 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
- Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries
- Free Basic Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
- Student Loan Repayment Program - for some degrees and criteria
What do our current employees value at Havenwyck Hospital and UHS?
An environment that puts patient care first. One of the most rewarding aspects of this job is providing excellent care, comfort, and security to the patients and families you treat, at their most vulnerable times. Supportive and responsive leadership. You are never alone, as you are part of a large network of peer co-workers that routinely exchange ideas and review current topics within the industry. Having the opportunity to grow, learn, and advance in your career. There are very robust continuing education options and opportunities for skills diversification and career advancement with UHS.
About Universal Health Services
One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 300 corporation, annual revenues were $15.8 billion in 2024. During the year, UHS was again recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; and listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 99,000 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located all over the U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from an approved program required.
- Certification by National Certification Board (NCTRC) required.
- Experience in a behavioral health hospital setting preferred.
- Employee must be in good standing (evaluation/employment history, corrective action, etc.) to be considered for internal transfer.
EEO Statement
All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.
Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams
At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

Responsibilities:
SHIFT OPTIONS:
CTRS Sunday to Thursday 10am-6:30pm
CTRS Tuesday to Saturday 10am-6:30pm
CTRS Monday-Friday, 10am-6:30pm (For Residential Treatment Center only)
HAVENWYCK HOSPITAL (a UHS facility)
Havenwyck Hospital is a Joint Commission-accredited and licensed psychiatric hospital, overlooking Lake Galloway in Auburn Hills, Michigan. We specialize in providing comprehensive, compassionate behavioral health services to children, adolescents and adults. It is the ultimate goal of our dedicated staff to build strength, confidence and knowledge within each patient, in hopes that they may continue learning and understanding their needs and practicing self-care for the rest of their lives.
For more information, please visit us at www.havenwyckhospital.com
Position Summary:
The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is responsible for the provision of Recreational Therapy services, including assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic activity interventions and discharge leisure planning. The CTRS utilizes individual and/or group activity interventions to bring about positive changes in the client's behavior, be-it cognitive, social, emotional or physical. The CTRS educates the client in healthy coping skills, and available leisure resources to continue the client in post discharge leisure planning and involvement. The CTRS will be responsible for evaluating each client's progress and the effectiveness of therapy treatment and recording the results daily. Will attend treatment team conferences to exchange information and observations with other members of the team, as well as assisting with the completion of the initial treatment plan and progress summary updates. All therapy is under the provision of services according to the current standards of practice. If you would like to learn more about this position before applying, please contact Havenwyck Hospital at 248-373-9200.
BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Challenging and rewarding work environment
- Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
- Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plan
- 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
- Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries
- Free Basic Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
- Student Loan Repayment Program - for some degrees and criteria
What do our current employees value at Havenwyck Hospital and UHS?
An environment that puts patient care first. One of the most rewarding aspects of this job is providing excellent care, comfort, and security to the patients and families you treat, at their most vulnerable times. Supportive and responsive leadership. You are never alone, as you are part of a large network of peer co-workers that routinely exchange ideas and review current topics within the industry. Having the opportunity to grow, learn, and advance in your career. There are very robust continuing education options and opportunities for skills diversification and career advancement with UHS.
About Universal Health Services
One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 300 corporation, annual revenues were $15.8 billion in 2024. During the year, UHS was again recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; and listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 99,000 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located all over the U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from an approved program required.
- Certification by National Certification Board (NCTRC) required.
- Experience in a behavioral health hospital setting preferred.
- Employee must be in good standing (evaluation/employment history, corrective action, etc.) to be considered for internal transfer.
EEO Statement
All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.
Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams
At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Target healthcare systems, not private practices
Large hospital networks and rehabilitation systems have HR departments experienced with work authorization. They sponsor foreign nationals far more often than small private practices, which rarely have the infrastructure to navigate OPT or H-1B sponsorship processes.
Get your CTRS credential as early as possible
Most employers require Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credentials before or shortly after hire. Passing the NCTRC exam before your OPT start date removes a common hiring hesitation and signals you can contribute immediately without additional credentialing delays.
Frame your degree field explicitly in applications
Therapeutic Recreation sits within kinesiology, health science, or recreation therapy programs. Clearly state your degree field on your resume so employers can assess OPT eligibility. Ambiguity about your field of study creates unnecessary friction during the hiring process.
Ask about sponsorship before the final interview round
Raise the sponsorship question after a recruiter screens you but before panel interviews. This saves time for both sides. Phrase it professionally: ask whether the organization has sponsored H-1B or O-1 visas for clinical recreation therapy staff in previous hiring cycles.
Emphasize population-specific clinical experience
Employers in pediatric, geriatric, and acute psychiatric settings value specialists with targeted clinical hours. Highlighting internship or fieldwork experience with specific populations reduces perceived onboarding risk and strengthens your case for sponsorship when competing against domestic candidates.
Check whether your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Some Therapeutic Recreation programs are classified under CIP codes that qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm with your DSO early. A 36-month total authorization window significantly improves your sponsorship timeline and negotiating position with prospective employers.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist on OPT?
Yes, provided your employment is directly related to your degree field. Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, Kinesiology, and Health Science degrees typically satisfy this requirement. Your role must align with your program of study, which clinical TR positions generally do. Confirm the connection with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Do Therapeutic Recreation Specialist employers commonly sponsor visas?
Sponsorship is more common at larger healthcare organizations than small community recreation programs. Hospital systems, VA facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, and long-term care networks are the most likely sponsors because they employ dedicated HR staff familiar with work authorization. Browsing Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship in this field.
Does a Therapeutic Recreation degree qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on how your specific program is classified. Recreation Therapy programs sometimes fall under health sciences CIP codes that qualify for STEM OPT, but this is not universal. Check with your DSO and review your program's CIP code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List to confirm eligibility before planning your timeline.
Do I need CTRS certification to work in Therapeutic Recreation on OPT?
Most clinical employers require CTRS certification through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Some positions allow you to work as a TR specialist while CTRS-eligible and complete certification within a set timeframe after hire. Confirm the certification requirement with each employer, as it varies by state regulation and practice setting.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I switch from a hospital to a community recreation role?
Your employment must remain directly related to your degree field throughout your OPT period. Community recreation roles that involve therapeutic programming generally qualify, but general recreation coordinator positions may not. Report any job change to your DSO within 10 days and confirm the new role qualifies before your start date to avoid status violations.
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