Recreation Therapist Jobs
Recreation Therapist jobs are open across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, psychiatric settings, and schools, at every level from entry-level to program director, with specializations in geriatric care, behavioral health, and pediatric rehabilitation. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Conducting and coordinating all recreation (e.g. recreation education and therapeutic recreation activities) for the residents within the Specialized Treatment Programs Division. Providing clinical input into the therapeutic milieu to ensure the most appropriate care for each child. Documenting all interventions and required reports in a timely and professional manner. Working closely with the STP Manager, leadership teams and direct care staff in following the progress of each youth. The Recreation Therapist will follow all OMH, ACS, OCFS, DCF, and COA regulations in relation to position.
Position Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and certification by the National Council for therapeutic Recreation Certification and Park Association Preferred. (CTRS) Minimum of one year of experience in an appropriate recreation program. Ability to form positive relationships with the residents and work as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team. Ability to work weekend days/evenings. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to accept and use authority comfortably. Creativity. Ability to understand and implement therapeutic recreation, recreation education and recreational programs. Driver’s license. Computer literate. (MS Office)
The Children’s Village does not discriminate against any employee, prospective employee or contractor because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic predisposition, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction history or any other protected classification under federal, state or local law.
Conducting and coordinating all recreation (e.g. recreation education and therapeutic recreation activities) for the residents within the Specialized Treatment Programs Division. Providing clinical input into the therapeutic milieu to ensure the most appropriate care for each child. Documenting all interventions and required reports in a timely and professional manner. Working closely with the STP Manager, leadership teams and direct care staff in following the progress of each youth. The Recreation Therapist will follow all OMH, ACS, OCFS, DCF, and COA regulations in relation to position.
Position Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and certification by the National Council for therapeutic Recreation Certification and Park Association Preferred. (CTRS) Minimum of one year of experience in an appropriate recreation program. Ability to form positive relationships with the residents and work as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team. Ability to work weekend days/evenings. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to accept and use authority comfortably. Creativity. Ability to understand and implement therapeutic recreation, recreation education and recreational programs. Driver’s license. Computer literate. (MS Office)
The Children’s Village does not discriminate against any employee, prospective employee or contractor because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic predisposition, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction history or any other protected classification under federal, state or local law.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services14
- Technology & Software2
- Education1
- Government & Public Sector1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in recreation therapist jobs.
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential or eligibility
- Bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or recreation therapy
- Experience conducting functional assessments and writing individualized treatment plans
- Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical documentation systems
- Knowledge of APIE process and evidence-based recreational therapy interventions
- Current CPR and first aid certification
Tips for Your Recreation Therapist Job Search
Lead your resume with CTRS credentials
Hiring managers in clinical and long-term care settings filter for Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist status before reading anything else. Put your CTRS credential directly after your name in the header so it's the first thing any screener sees.
Tailor your documentation to the setting
A resume targeting a psychiatric unit needs to foreground behavioral intervention and de-escalation experience, while one targeting a skilled nursing facility should lead with group programming and functional assessment. Rewrite your top bullet points for each setting type, not each individual posting.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists recreation therapist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your setting preference and apply directly to each listing without jumping between sites.
Search by clinical population, not just title
Many recreation therapist openings are posted under titles like Activity Coordinator or Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Search by population served, such as pediatric, geriatric, or traumatic brain injury, to surface postings that match your clinical background but use a different job title.
Prepare a treatment-plan walkthrough for interviews
Interviewers in clinical settings routinely ask you to walk through how you assess a patient, set goals, design an intervention, and measure outcomes. Prepare a concrete example from your internship or current role that follows APIE, the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation framework.
Negotiate your on-call and weekend obligations
Recreation therapist roles in inpatient and residential settings often include rotating weekend coverage that isn't always listed in the posting. Before accepting an offer, clarify the exact schedule rotation and whether weekend shifts carry a differential, so you're not surprised after your first week.
Recreation Therapist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most recreation therapists?
New York State Office of Mental Health, Community Health and Wellness, and US Department of Veterans Affairs are hiring the most recreation therapists right now, with openings concentrated in New York, Texas, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is highest in inpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, and behavioral health settings.
How many recreation therapist jobs are remote?
About 0% of recreation therapist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most clinical roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or telehealth options include program coordination, community wellness consulting, and adaptive recreation planning for outpatient populations.
How do you become a recreation therapist?
You earn a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or a closely related field that includes a supervised clinical internship. After graduating, you sit for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam to earn your CTRS credential. Some employers, particularly in psychiatric and pediatric settings, prefer candidates who pursue additional competency training in areas like behavioral intervention or adaptive aquatics before applying.
How do you get hired as a recreation therapist with little experience?
Your internship is your primary clinical credential when you're new, so lead every application with the specific patient population you worked with and the interventions you facilitated, not just the facility name. Volunteer roles in adaptive sports, senior centers, or summer therapeutic camps count as directly relevant experience. Applying to per-diem or activity assistant roles in long-term care is a common entry point that builds toward full CTRS-required positions.
What does the recreation therapist interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone screen focused on your CTRS status, clinical population experience, and schedule availability. A second interview, often with a department director or clinical team, typically includes a scenario question asking you to walk through an assessment and treatment plan. Some inpatient and psychiatric settings add a brief facility tour or a panel interview with nursing or social work colleagues before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to recreation therapist jobs?
You can find and apply to recreation therapist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your clinical setting and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and location.
See All 125+ Recreation Therapist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Recreation Therapist Jobs