Restore health and well-being with a career as a recreational therapist

Therapeutic Recreation Ontario College Graduate Certificate program

Use your skills to help improve/restore health and wellness. Small class settings, knowledgeable, friendly faculty and hands-on learning.

On this page:

Program information
Admission requirements
Career opportunities
Study part-time
Course information
Contact us
Ways to connect

Take the CareerMatch quiz

View more Human Services programs

2022-2023 program outline

2021-2022 outline (PDF)

Program outline archive

Program code TREC

Duration 1 Year

Credential Ontario College Graduate Certificate

Delivery Full-time +
Part-time

Program information

Program description

Students learn to provide client centered, strength-based therapeutic recreation services using the therapeutic recreation process. Students acquire the skills to complete client assessments and to develop, implement and evaluate group and individual therapeutic recreation programs. A variety of facilitative techniques are explored in order to assist individuals to participate in meaningful recreation and leisure experiences that will achieve health related goals, improve functional ability, and increase quality of life.

Graduates of this program are eligible to become registered members of Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (R/TRO). Membership type will depend on the postsecondary credentials they hold:

R/TRO for graduates with degrees
R/TRO DIP for graduates with diplomas

Graduates may also apply to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) using one of two specific pathways (equivalency path A or B).

Intake information

Start date	Campus
Fall 2022	Orillia

Tuition and fees

Visit our tuition and fees page for detailed information on the cost to attend Georgian.
You can afford this! Explore OSAP as well as awards, scholarships and bursaries to help you pay your way to graduation.

Work-integrated learning

This program includes an internship component. During your final semester, you will take part in a supervised, structured work opportunity and apply your academic knowledge in a setting directly related to your program.

Ready to apply?

Apply as a domestic student

Apply as an international student

Explore life at Georgian

What are the admission requirements for the Therapeutic Recreation program?

Therapeutic Recreation admission requirements

Post-secondary diploma or degree, with a specialty in health or human services.

Selection Process

Applicants will be asked to submit a current resumé. Academic and experiential learning of all applicants will be assessed.

Admission details

According to Therapeutic Recreation Ontario, the registration designation (R/TRO) is currently a voluntary credential intended to recognize a level of excellence. It is anticipated that the Government of Ontario will move towards regulation of the profession; however, that is not expected to occur for a number of years. When regulation does occur, the R/TRO designation may represent the minimum criteria necessary. For the present, even though it is not provincially mandated, some employers do require R/TRO designation for hiring; however, many employers do not.

What career paths can I take as a recreational therapist?

Your Therapeutic Recreation graduate certificate gives you many career opportunities

Graduates of the program may find employment in health or human service
organizations such as:

Acute, chronic care, and other specialized hospitals
Provincial agencies or facilities for individuals with psychiatric or developmental disabilities
Rehabilitation programs
Children’s treatment centers
Municipal recreation departments
Long term care facilities/adult day programs
Correctional programs and facilities
Community or private agencies serving people with illness disability
Private practice

Flex MORE. Study Therapeutic Recreation part-time

Benefits of studying part-time:

Register on a course-by-course basis, paying as you go
Online and evening courses that fit your schedule
MORE choices. We are always adding more flexible delivery programs and courses.

What you need to know:

Next steps:

Visit the part-time program page

Apply to the part-time program

What courses are included in the Therapeutic Recreation graduate certificate program?

Course overview

12 Program Courses
1 Internship

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Therapeutic Recreation program outline.