SECTION .0300 – REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

21 NCAC 65 .0301             MINIMUM LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND COMPETENCY FOR LICENSED RECREATIONAL THERAPIST

(a)  For the purposes of G.S. 90C-27(a), a candidate for licensure as a recreational therapist shall have graduated from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree or higher and with a major or specialization in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation. The academic major or specialization shall be verified by an official transcript.

(b)  For the purposes of this Rule, the following terms mean:

(1)           An "academic major" is defined as a degree in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation.

(2)           A "specialization in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation" is defined as a degree in recreation and leisure studies, or recreation, or health and physical education, or health and human performance with a specialization, also known as an option, emphasis, or concentration, in therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy.

(3)           An "accredited college or university" is defined as a college or university accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the United States Department of Education or by the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE) under the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP).

(c)  An academic major or specialization is defined by the following components:

(1)           Coursework for a degree or specialization in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation shall reflect six courses, three hours per course in which the title, course description, and course outline reflects recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation content related to the "APIE(D) Process". Course titles may include Introduction or Foundations, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Research, and Advancement of the Profession. Topics that should be addressed in classes should include, ethics, standards of practice, documentation. Recreational Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation coursework offered in North Carolina must be taught by a licensed recreational therapist (LRT) or out of state by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS™) by the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). For candidates for licensure who have passed the NCTRC examination and were certified by the NCTRC as a CTRS™, a therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy content course taught is considered the same as a therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy content course taken.

(2)           "Supportive coursework" are courses, not including the recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation content courses. Supportive courses for a degree or specialization in recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation shall include three semester hours of anatomy and physiology, three semester hours of abnormal psychology, three semester hours of human growth and development across the lifespan, and nine semester hours in the area of health and human services. Health and human services coursework may include content in the areas of education, ethics, and other courses related to the practice of recreational therapy.

(3)           In addition to the coursework required in Subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this Rule, a field placement course shall be required for an academic major or specialization in therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy.

(A)          A "field placement course," sometimes called an "internship course," is a course taken for college or university credit and shall require clinical education in an agency providing therapeutic recreation services to clients. The field placement or internship course shall meet the criteria for a field placement set forth by the NCTRC in the NCTRC Standards publication herein incorporated by reference including any subsequent amendments and editions. A copy of the NCTRC field placement requirements may be obtained at no cost on the NCTRC website at: https://www.nctrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/InternshipInterruptionGuidelines.pdf.

(B)          A "university supervisor" of a field placement course is defined as the university faculty assigned to supervise the student and course from the university. If the university is in North Carolina, university supervisors shall be licensed by the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure (NCBRTL) throughout the entire internship experience.

(C)          An "agency supervisor" is the recreational therapist or therapeutic recreation specialist, in an agency providing therapeutic recreation or recreational therapy services to patients or clients, assigned to provide clinical supervision to the field placement student from the agency. Supervisors of students completing field placements in North Carolina shall be licensed by the NCBRTL throughout the entire internship experience.

(D)          "Successful performance" in a field placement course is defined as a grade of D or Pass awarded by the university supervisor. "Successful performance from the agency supervisor" is defined by an overall rating of "Achieves Expectations" documented on the Clinical Performance Appraisal and Summary Reference Form, (CPASRF) that may be accessed at the Board's website, www.ncbrtl.org or by contacting the Board. The CPASRF includes the content and performance criteria from the American Therapeutic Recreation Association Standards of Practice (ATRA SOP), as set forth in Rule .0203 of this Chapter. The CPASRF is provided by the Board or at the Board's website www.ncbrtl.org.

(d)  Candidates for licensure who have been certified as a CTRS™ by NCTRC and have completed all recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation content courses, and all support content course requirements, but cannot locate their internship supervisor, shall file an Internship Supervisor Location Appeals Form and shall be issued a license to practice as a recreational therapist if they verify a minimum of one year of successful performance as a recreational therapist or therapeutic recreation specialist during which time they were a CTRS™ by the NCTRC. Successful work performance shall be verified to the NCBRTL on a CPASRF provided by NCBRTL. "Successful performance" is defined as an overall rating completed by the agency supervisor of "Achieves Expectations" on the CPASRF.

(e)  Successful passage of the NCTRC examination shall be determined by the NCTRC. Applicants for licensure shall submit evidence of successful passage of the NCTRC examination to the NCBRTL. Evidence of successful passage of the NCTRC examination shall be copy of his or her NCTRC certificate or a successful passage notification letter from NCTRC.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90C-22(2)(i); 90C-22(7); 90C-24(a)(13); 90C-27(a);

Temporary Adoption Eff. December 1, 2005;

Eff. June 1, 2006;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2016; October 1, 2007;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. October 21, 2018;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2022.