Job description template
Recreational Therapist Job Description Template
A copy-ready recreational therapist job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.
Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows recreational therapists earn a median of $61,960 ($29.79/hour); the middle 50% earn $50,240–$79,930.
Job title
Recreational Therapist
Job summary
[Company name] is seeking a dependable recreational therapist to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will assess patients’ needs and interests, plan therapeutic recreation programs and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.
Responsibilities
- Assess patients’ needs and interests
- Plan therapeutic recreation programs
- Lead individual and group activities
- Adapt activities for abilities
- Track progress toward goals
- Coordinate community outings
- Document treatment
- Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- Current license or certification as required by [state]
- Working knowledge of therapeutic assessment and activity adaptation
- Creativity and empathy
- [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]
Preferred qualifications
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
- State license
- CPR and first aid
- Experience with adaptive sports equipment
Skills
- Group facilitation
- Treatment planning
- Documentation
- Adaptive equipment
- Enthusiasm
- Patience
Work environment and schedule
Recreational therapists work in hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities and community programs. Most work full-time, sometimes evenings and weekends when patients are available.
Pay and benefits
$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]
Equal opportunity
[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
Tips for a recreational therapist job posting that attracts applicants
- Use the title candidates search for. “Recreational Therapist” is the clearest; alternates include Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, CTRS, Recreation Therapist.
- Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
- Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a recreational therapist so applicants self-select accurately.
- Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Recreational Therapist training: widens your applicant pool.
Next steps
Screen and interview with our Recreational Therapist hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.