FAQS

• To be awarded CTRAC's credentials, the candidate must meet the eligibility requirements and pass a knowledge based exam.  When the candidate is awarded this credential, it serves as evidence that the individual, through knowledge and experience, has met CTRAC Certification Standards.
• Candidates are eligible to register for the CTRAC certification exam if they are in compliance with CTRAC's Certification Standards, including the prerequisites, and they have been found by CTRAC to meet all professional eligibility requirements through either the academic or equivalency path.

You will need to complete the following:

Activity Director:

• CTRAC Education Courses for Activity Professionals Part I and Part II:  192 hours of educational learning and 192 hours of experiential learning (practicum), and is required for CTRAC certification.
• CTRAC Education Course for Activity Professionals Part I  prepares students for the basic functions and duties of an activity professional and  to design, deliver, and evaluate services for older adults across the continuum of care.

• CTRAC Education Course for Activity Professionals Part II  prepares students to apply principles of management in their role as an activity professional:  to provide service through leadership, using principles of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling.
• Study under the supervision of an on-site field placement supervisor who is CTRAC, NCTRC, or NCCAP approved or certified.  Your primary supervisor must be employed full time and work a minimum of 32 hours a week.

Therapeutic Recreation Associate:

• All courses must deal exclusively with therapeutic recreation content. You will need to complete an internship in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process, a minimum of 400-hour/twelve (12) consecutive weeks.
• Study under the supervision of an on-site field placement supervisor who is CTRAC or NCTRC certified. Your primary supervisor must be employed full-time and work a minimum of 32 hours a week at the agency, with at least 50% of the job duties in Therapeutic Recreation services.

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist:

• All courses must deal exclusively with therapeutic recreation content. You will need to complete an internship in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process, a minimum of 560-hour/twelve (15) consecutive weeks Study under the supervision of an on-site field placement supervisor who is CTRAC or NCTRC certified. Your primary supervisor must be employed full-time and work a minimum of 32 hours a week at the agency, with at least 50% of the job duties in Therapeutic Recreation services.

Yes, you may apply for professional eligibility review after completion of the following conditions:

• Enrollment in a degree or completion program pertaining to Therapeutic Recreation/Recreation Therapy or Activity Director as defined by the current CTRAC standards.
• Completion of a minimum of 90 credit hours toward degree attainment.   (TR applicants)
• Completion of all required coursework other than the field placement requirement, as defined by the current CTRAC standards.
• Submission of an official academic transcript denoting the completion of the above requirements.  Applicants completing the academic path for the application process will be awarded CTRAC certification and the assigned certificate upon demonstration of the following:
  • Successful completion of the CTRAC exam, completion of a field placement or internship experience in accordance with CTRAC Standards
  • Academic degree attainment as documented by an official academic transcript,
  • Verification of completion of field placement or internship.

Transcripts must accompany your application.  Each transcript must include registrar signature and seal to be considered official.

Yes, transcripts from all colleges/universities must be included.  The only guarantee that all your coursework will be reviewed is to make sure every transcript is submitted with your application.

You will receive notification of your exam application status within a week of being reviewed.

• • $75.00--Application Fee
  • $50.00--Examination Fee

Additional charges for the following;

• Check is returned for insufficient funds--$40.00
• Credit Card denial--$30.00

Applications are accepted throughout the year; however, there are deadlines for filing applications before each exam.  Upcoming deadlines include:

• • December 1st for the Winter exam date
  • March 1st for the Spring exam date
  • June 1st for the Summer exam date
  • September 1st for the Fall exam date

CTRAC has initiated testing electronically. Applicants will receive immediate results after submitting their exam.

The current fee is $50.00.

Immediately after successful completion of the exam.

If an applicant passes the exam with a 70 or above, certificates will be mailed after the applicant's check clears.

You will need to send in the following:

1. Certified Activity Director’s with “conditions” 
   • Within two, (2) years of being granted certification must complete the following courses to maintain certification
     • Completion of one approved course in Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation*
     • Completion of one approved course in Therapeutic Recreation Program Design*
     • Complete 2.0 continuing education (20 contact hours) related to the CTRAC body of Knowledge and that meet the CEU requirements.
2. Unemployed, or currently working in a job unrelated to therapeutic recreation/or activities, or are retired:
   • Within your two (2) year certification cycle, you must complete 3.0 CEUs (30 contact hours) related to the CTRAC Body of Knowledge and that meet the CEU requirements.
3. Employed in the field of Therapeutic Recreation/or Activities:
   • Within your two (2) year certification cycle, you must complete 2.0 CEUs (20 contact hours) related to the CTRAC Body of Knowledge and that meet the CEU requirements.

Individuals that are applying for recertification are required to submit their application by the scheduled deadline.

Recertification Application & Fee Deadlines
March 1st	June 1st	September 1st	December 1st

•  Unemployed, or currently working in a job unrelated to therapeutic recreation/or activities, or are retired: Within your two (2) year certification cycle, you must complete 3.0 CEUs (30 contact hours) related to the CTRAC Body of Knowledge and that meet the CEU requirements.
• Employed in the field of Therapeutic Recreation/or Activities: Within your two (2) year certification cycle, you must complete 2.0 CEUs (20 contact hours) related to the CTRAC Body of Knowledge and that meet the CEU requirements.

• Certified Activity Director's with "conditions"
• Within two, (2) years of being granted certification must complete the following courses to maintain certification
  • Completion of one approved course in Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation
  • Completion of one approved course in Therapeutic Recreation Program Design*

CTRAC does not track continuing education/or contact hours.  A certificate or transcript must be acquired and maintained by the certificate holder, for future submission on the Recertification due date.

• You must be employed full-time in a Therapeutic Recreation/Activities setting OR
•  Be retired from the profession.  (65 years of age or older)

All applicants for recertification must submit documentation verifying the completion of 2.0 continuing education units (ceu's) or 20 contact hours from a certified and/or CTRAC approved educational source.  In addition, all 2.0 ceu's/or 20 contact hours MUST correspond to one of the areas of CTRAC's Body of Knowledge: (must have been completed during the last two-year period.)

• • Advancement of Therapeutic Recreation/Activities Profession
  • Documentation
  • Human Development
  • Management and Leadership
  • Clients Served with Challenges
  • Therapeutic Program Development and Implementation
  • Treatment Modalities

Continuing Education Unit's must come from four distinct areas of the Body of Knowledge.

• Online Continuing Education Unit's:  limited to 1.0 ceu or ten contact hours presented within the 2-year recertification period. Presentations are limited to no more than 1.0 ceu or 10 contact hours  presented within the two-year period.
• Professional Presentations by a sole presenter will be acknowledged as: ie,  .4 ceu's for a two-hour workshop and as .6 ceu.s for a three-hour session. (CEU.s is inclusive of all activities related to the development and implementation of the presentation.); not to include introductions, breaks, or meals.
• Written Publication:  books, articles, thesis, dissertations
  • Sole authored publications in  professional journals are awarded  1.0 ceu or 10 contact hours for approved author of current published textbook/thesis & dissertation during the two-year cycle.
  • Co-author publications not accepted
• CTRAC has an obligation to verify that Continuing Education Units (C.E.U.’s) submitted for recertification are from a recognized C.E.U. approval source.  C.E.U. Certificates submitted must clearly list the approving organization's name, provider C.E.U. approval number, title of presentation, presenter information and number of C.E.U.s allotted. C.E.U.s (Example: 2.0 C.E.U.’s. = 20 clock hours) must represent 4 distinct areas of the CTRAC Body of Knowledge. Check CTRAC website for other related criteria. Submit questions to info@ctractexas.org.
  • Effective 7/1/2018 when C.E.U.’s are being submitted to CTRAC for recertification that are not Therapeutic Recreation/Activities based conferences/workshop approved, the description of the session/ workshop and objectives must be submitted with the certificate.  In addition, certificates must come from a recognized C.E.U approval agency.
  • AUTOMATIC APPROVAL IS NOT guaranteed for any session.

Yes, CTRAC will accept no more than 1.0 ceu's (10 contact hours).  Online courses specially related to Therapeutic Recreation/Activity Services.

A "certificate holder" can request for an extension. PLEASE NOTE:  The extension is for a "one" lifetime request The individual will request and complete the required application by the State deadlines Application for extension must be requested prior to the recertification deadline An extension grants one year to fulfill the recertification requirements.

The current fee is $75.00

CTRAC's Reinstatement program is designed for individuals whose certification recently expired.  Reinstatement certification eligibility is for candidates who were certified within the last four (4) years.  Individuals are required to pay all "late fees" during the reinstatement process.  For additional information; please refer to the "fees" page.

FEES
Application Fee (New Applicants)	Examination Sitting Fee (Not required until the application has been approved) ***Also required for Re-testing	Recertification Fee (Required every 2 years with 2.0 ceu's/or 20 contact hours	Late Fee (1-30 Days post Expiration Date)	Extension Fee (Minimum 3 to 12 Months)	Post Recertification Fee (See Description Below)
$100.00	$75.00	$75.00	$25.00	$50.00	$125.00 (Day 31 to Day 90 Post Renewal Date)
					$175.00 (Day 91 to Day 180 Post Renewal Date)
					$225.00 (Day 181 to Day 270 Post Renewal Date)
					$275.00 (Day 271 to Day 365 Post Renewal Date)

CTRAC requires that all candidates and certificants maintain their legal name and address in the official CTRAC records. To report a name change, complete the change of address form, or you may email your requested changes to info@ctractexas.org

The CTRAC office will mail certificates  upon initial certification, recertification every 2 years, and upon request.   A charge will be applied for replacement certificates.