Entry Level Recreation Therapist Jobs
New grad recreation therapist jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong internship or clinical placement can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services, Technology & Software, and Education, with employers like New York State Office of Mental Health, Novant Health, and Youth Villages hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 17+ Entry Level Recreation Therapist jobs
Recreational Therapist (RECT)-Correctional Facility
Location: Ione, CA
Schedule: Tuesday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM
Pay Rate: $70/hr (Negotiable)
Job Overview
We are seeking a qualified and dedicated Recreational Therapist (RECT) to provide therapeutic recreation services in a correctional facility setting. The ideal candidate will help individuals improve social functioning, develop healthy leisure skills, and achieve their rehabilitation and treatment goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement therapeutic recreation programs and activities.
- Assess and evaluate patients' recreational therapy needs.
- Participate in Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDTT) meetings.
- Coordinate care with clinicians, counselors, and custody staff.
- Promote positive social interactions and appropriate leisure activities.
- Help patients develop coping, communication, and life skills.
- Monitor patient progress and document treatment outcomes.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and reports.
- Support rehabilitation and successful reintegration goals.
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum 12 months of recent experience within the last three years performing similar duties.
- Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation or Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation.
- Completion of supervised fieldwork approved by NCTRC or CBRPC.
- Strong verbal and written English communication skills.
Pay: Up to $70.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
License/Certification:
- CTRS (Required)
Work Location: In person
Recreational Therapist (RECT)-Correctional Facility
Location: Ione, CA
Schedule: Tuesday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM
Pay Rate: $70/hr (Negotiable)
Job Overview
We are seeking a qualified and dedicated Recreational Therapist (RECT) to provide therapeutic recreation services in a correctional facility setting. The ideal candidate will help individuals improve social functioning, develop healthy leisure skills, and achieve their rehabilitation and treatment goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement therapeutic recreation programs and activities.
- Assess and evaluate patients' recreational therapy needs.
- Participate in Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDTT) meetings.
- Coordinate care with clinicians, counselors, and custody staff.
- Promote positive social interactions and appropriate leisure activities.
- Help patients develop coping, communication, and life skills.
- Monitor patient progress and document treatment outcomes.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and reports.
- Support rehabilitation and successful reintegration goals.
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum 12 months of recent experience within the last three years performing similar duties.
- Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation or Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation.
- Completion of supervised fieldwork approved by NCTRC or CBRPC.
- Strong verbal and written English communication skills.
Pay: Up to $70.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
License/Certification:
- CTRS (Required)
Work Location: In person
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Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services13
- Technology & Software2
- Education1
- Government & Public Sector1
Entry Level Recreation Therapist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level recreation therapist job?
Entry level recreation therapist employers look for candidates who have completed a clinical internship, hold or are pursuing CTRS certification, and can demonstrate hands-on experience with a patient or client population. A focused resume that highlights your internship settings, activity programming work, and any volunteer hours in therapeutic recreation gives you a clear edge over candidates who rely on coursework alone.
Which companies hire entry level recreation therapists?
Companies hiring entry level recreation therapists right now include New York State Office of Mental Health, Novant Health, and Youth Villages, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, the strongest hiring comes from hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and community mental health organizations that regularly onboard new graduates and provide structured supervision.
Are there remote entry level recreation therapist jobs?
Yes, though most positions at this level are on-site given the hands-on nature of therapeutic recreation. About 0% of entry level recreation therapist openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those roles typically involve care coordination, documentation, or telehealth programming rather than direct in-person activity facilitation.
Are these new grad recreation therapist jobs?
Yes, the listings on this page include new grad, recent graduate, and junior recreation therapist roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts an internship or clinical rotation in place of paid work history, or invites candidates who are currently completing their CTRS eligibility requirements. Look for language like "entry level," "new grad welcome," or "will train" in the job description.
Which industries hire the most entry level recreation therapists?
Entry Level recreation therapist roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Technology & Software, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they serve populations, such as older adults, patients in inpatient rehabilitation, and individuals with behavioral health needs, where therapeutic recreation is a recognized and often required clinical service.