Education
Recreation Therapists registered with ATRA have completed a minimum of a degree or degree-transfer diploma in recreation therapy or related fields such as recreation, leisure studies, adapted kinesiology and gerontology with specializations in therapeutic recreation.
Recreation Therapists have completed post-secondary courses in assessment and treatment for medical conditions and disability, documentation in health care, research and evaluation and internship placements in health settings.
Recreation Therapists have completed related course work in psychology, sociology, leadership, interdisciplinary health care, health and wellness, aging, aging and medical disorders, anatomy, physiology and statistics.
Continued Competence
ATRA requires an annual registration renewal along with completion of continuing education credits. Continuing education ensures that treatment by registered Recreation Therapists is safe, current, outcome-oriented, patient-centred and demonstrates best practice.
Standards of Practice
Recreation Therapists in Alberta follow established standards of practice including assessment, intervention/care planning, program development and delivery, documentation, evaluation, research, professional development and community practice.
Recreation Therapists follow standardized, researched and validated clinical practice guidelines to ensure that treatment, practice procedures and expected outcomes are consistent from one region to another.
Standardized, researched and validated assessment and outcome tools are used by Recreation Therapists to ensure patient treatment is meaningful and relevant, goal setting is realistic and achievable and changes in knowledge, behaviour, functional skill or health status are observable and measurable.