TN Visa Certified Recreational Therapist Jobs
Certified Recreational Therapist roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under USMCA for Canadian and Mexican citizens. Employers filing a TN petition need proof of your CTRS credential, a baccalaureate in recreational therapy, and a qualifying job offer. Canadian applicants can secure TN status at the port of entry with no lottery.
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State of New Hampshire Job Posting
Department of Health and Human Services
New Hampshire Hospital
36 Clinton St.
Concord, NH 03301
RECREATIONAL THERAPIST II
Full-Time, 1st Shift
Position #15912
$25.40/hour - $38.85/hour
Plus, Direct Care Pay Ten Dollars per week
See total compensation information at the bottom of announcement.
The State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Hospital have a full-time vacancy for Recreational Therapist II.
Summary:
Plans and delivers recreational therapy services for acute psychiatric patients to promote social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being and recovery.
YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS: Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of required work experience and/or each additional year of approved work experience may be substituted for one year of required formal education.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree and 1 year of experience OR equivalent combination of 5 years of education and experience after completion of high school. Education and experience must be in therapeutic recreation or related field.
License/Certification:
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Successful examination and certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and authorization to use the initials CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist). Licensure as a Recreational Therapist by the New Hampshire Allied Health Professionals Governing Board for Recreational Therapists. If not yet licensed in New Hampshire, must have a conditional license.
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Valid driver’s license
Other Requirements: Physical requirements include continuous strenuous activities such as frequent reaching, bending, or lifting as well as performing work activities which require fine manual dexterity or coordination.
Trainee Option: Not applicable
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of recreational therapy, group work techniques and theory bases practice. Knowledge of problems associated with mental illness or emotional disabilities. Ability to offer alternatives to modify behavioral patterns through recreational/physical activities. Ability to plan recreational therapy program with an understanding of the principles, practices, and techniques of professional Therapeutic Recreation. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to secure the cooperation of both professional and non-professional persons. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with other employees and the patient population. Willing to maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the agency appointing authority.
AFTER-HIRE REQUIREMENTS:
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Satisfactory completion of specified written and physical components of the NH Hospital Mental Health Worker Training Program within first four weeks of employment.
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Must complete with NHH Human Resources a Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles NH Driving Verification resulting in no major traffic violations.
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Must complete defensive driver training within the first six (6) months of employment. Additionally, to ensure ongoing safety and compliance, all drivers are required to renew their defensive driver training every three years.
CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
In-Band Advancement Available: Yes No
Criteria: None
Broad Group Level Advancement Available: Yes No
Criteria: None
DISCLAIMERS:
The supplemental job description lists the essential functions of the position and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed on the supplemental job description provided that such duties are characteristic of that job title.
When applicable, the work of an employee in trainee status in this position shall be overseen by a fully qualified individual. An employee in trainee status shall meet the minimum qualifications within the period of time specified on the SJD, not to exceed one year of being hired into this position.
Responsibilities:
DETAILED TASKS (AGENCY/POSITION-SPECIFIC):
- Administers Rehab assessments, discipline assessment and annual assessments of all patients referred for treatment to evaluate patient’s level of functioning. Develops treatment plan interventions and schedules patients to ensure individual and group programs meet treatment goals.
- Develops, implements, documents, and monitors individualized recreational therapy programs to maximize patient functioning in the areas of social, cognitive, psycho-educational, physical, emotional, and wellness of patients in individual and/or group programs.
- Plans and implements evening and weekend activities to meet the social and leisure needs of patients. Schedules patients for appropriate activity groups to meet individual needs and progress toward treatment goals.
- Plans and implements one special hospital event annually.
- Documents patient progress towards treatment goals in the medical record; prepares reports and statistical data as needed. Utilizes basic computer skills to successfully operate the Electronic Health Record (EHR), communicate through email and produce reports.
- Communicates and collaborates with team members department members, hospital staff, and community agencies through verbal or written means to ensure effective interdisciplinary patient services and continuation of services.
- Maintains treatment areas and equipment in a safe and therapeutic manner and assures that supplies are sufficient to meet patient and program needs. Requests purchase of equipment and supplies relevant to assigned area.
- Performs and participates in Quality Improvement activities to monitor and improve aspects of care.
- Participates in educational activities relevant to age and disability needs of population served to keep current on best practices in the field. Monitors trends and keeps aware of licensure and certification changes that affect practice.
- Supervises clinical interns and staff/volunteers, as assigned to coordinate work assignments. Assists in orientation of new employees to the Rehab Department.
Staff Workplace Safety Accountabilities
Complies with established hospital policies and procedures and departmental standards by:
- Maintaining competency in hospital approved Crisis Management Program (CMP) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques for adults, children, infants, and AED training.
- Performing accountabilities in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Communicating with supervisors’ issues related to workplace safety (i.e., ergonomics, body mechanics, environment, equipment, harassment, violence, etc.)
- Reporting on the job injuries to supervisor IMMEDIATELY.
- Establishing and maintaining therapeutic boundaries in relationships with patients.
- Attending training programs as appropriate.
Total Commitment to Quality
Participates in the process of continuous quality improvement by supporting unit/department-based quality improvement activities. Demonstrates commitment to customer service values in professional conduct and by promoting such values in assigned work area.
For further information please contact Nicole Goyette, Sr. Psychiatric Social Worker, at (603) 271-5514 or email at: Nicole.D.Goyette@dhhs.nh.gov.
You may also contact Human Resources at NHH-HR@DHHS.NH.GOV.
TOTAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION
The State of NH total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits, including:
HMO or POS Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits:
The actual value of State-paid health benefits and the amount of employee health benefit contributions may vary depending on the type of plan selected and the bargaining unit with which a position is associated.
Value of State's share of Employee's Retirement: 12.87% of pay
Other Benefits:
- Dental Plan at minimal cost for employees and their families ($500-$1800 value)
- Flexible Spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
- State defined benefit retirement plan and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
- Work/life balance flexible schedules, paid holidays and generous leave plan
- $50,000 state-paid life insurance plus additional low-cost group life insurance
- Incentive-based Wellness Program (ability to earn up to $500)
EOE
TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship in Certified Recreational Therapist
Verify your CTRS credential is active
TN visa status for recreational therapists requires a valid Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential from NCTRC. Confirm your certification is current before applying, because a lapsed CTRS disqualifies the petition regardless of your degree.
Target healthcare systems over outpatient clinics
Hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities file TN petitions more routinely than small outpatient practices. Filter your search toward employers with dedicated HR or legal teams familiar with USMCA professional visa filings.
Request a TN support letter that matches CBP categories
Ask your employer to draft the offer letter using the exact USMCA occupational language for recreational therapist. Mismatched job titles or vague duty descriptions are a leading reason CBP officers ask additional questions at the Canadian border.
Search TN-sponsored positions through Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find recreational therapist roles where employers have indicated TN visa sponsorship availability. Filtering by sponsorship willingness upfront saves weeks of back-and-forth with HR teams unfamiliar with the process.
Clarify consular versus port-of-entry filing early
Mexican citizens must apply at a U.S. consulate and are subject to an annual TN allocation, so confirm visa availability with your employer before accepting an offer. Canadian citizens can proceed directly to a port of entry, skipping the consular queue entirely.
Prepare a credential equivalency letter if your degree title differs
Degrees titled recreation studies, therapeutic recreation, or kinesiology with a therapy concentration may require a credential evaluation letter confirming equivalency to a U.S. baccalaureate in recreational therapy before CBP will accept the petition at the port of entry.
Certified Recreational Therapist TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Certified Recreational Therapist role qualify for TN visa sponsorship?
Yes. Recreational therapist is a listed USMCA profession, meaning Canadian and Mexican citizens with a baccalaureate degree in recreational therapy and an active CTRS credential can obtain TN status. The employer provides the job offer and support letter, but no government petition is filed on your behalf separately for Canadians entering at the border.
How does the TN visa compare to H-1B for recreational therapist positions?
The TN visa has no lottery, no annual cap for Canadian citizens, and can be obtained same-day at a port of entry for Canadians. H-1B visa requires entering a randomized lottery with roughly a one-in-four selection chance, a multi-month wait, and employer-paid petition fees. For Canadian recreational therapists, TN is faster and more predictable than pursuing H-1B sponsorship.
Where can I find recreational therapist jobs that offer TN visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate lists recreational therapist roles specifically filtered for TN visa sponsorship eligibility, so you can identify employers already open to the process without cold-approaching HR teams. Searching by sponsorship status upfront removes the most common early obstacle Canadian and Mexican applicants face when job hunting for this role.
What documents does my employer need to support a recreational therapist TN petition?
Your employer needs to provide a detailed offer letter stating your job title, duties, qualifications required, and intended length of employment. You supply your CTRS certification documentation and degree transcripts. Canadian applicants present these at the port of entry to CBP directly. Mexican applicants submit them as part of the DS-160 consular package before their visa interview.
Can I change recreational therapist employers while on TN status?
You can change employers, but your TN status is tied to your current petitioner. Canadians typically return to a port of entry with a new offer letter to receive a fresh TN annotation. Mexican TN holders need a new consular appointment. There is no grace period codified specifically for TN holders changing jobs, so coordinate your start date carefully with your new employer.