Credentialing is the process by which an agency grants recognition of compliance to recognized standards to individuals who have met stated qualifications. Credentialing programs develop when there is a need to define entry standards and assure compliance with these standards to protect the public, assist employers, and increase the credibility of the discipline.

It is highly encouraged that Recreational Therapy (RT) professionals undergo the voluntary process of national credentialing. In fact, you will find that many employers will not hire practitioners who have not obtained national certification (or in the case of new graduates, individuals who are in the process of obtaining certification). Certification in RT is administered by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification® (NCTRC®). For more information on certification, visit www.nctrc.org.

Licensure is a legal, non-voluntary process regulated by state government. This means that in states that have RT licensure, you cannot practice without a license. Currently, five states have RT/TR licensure laws and other states are in the process of creating legislation to achieve licensure in their state. For more information on the national effort to achieve RT licensure, consult the Joint Task Force for Recreational Therapy Licensure.