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Therapist
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
| Starting | $37.84 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $44.90 |
| Top | $49.98 |
Interest in mentoring patients by providing treatment and advising them on how to deal with their mental and physical abilities; and in consulting with other health care professionals to evaluate treatment plans
Interest in co-ordinating, initiating, designing and implementing specialized therapy programs for the general patient population and in the community; may conduct research in respective field of specialization
Interest in operating - manipulating equipment and following procedures to implement treatment plans by carrying out specialized therapy sessions employing techniques such as art, athletic, dance, music or recreational therapy or remedial gymnastics; and in observing and analyzing patients during treatment sessions
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Recreation therapists help people with illness or disability (whether physical, mental, emotional, cognitive or social) maintain healthy, balanced lifestyles. They address clients’ barriers to leisure and recreation, independent social contact, and being active in the community.
Recreation therapists:
As members of a health care team (alongside doctors, nurses, nutritionists, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and social workers), recreation therapists:
Recreation therapists may work in health care settings, private homes, community facilities or outdoors. They may work wherever recreation or leisure pursuits take place. As a result, working conditions vary. Recreation therapists may work shifts that include evenings and weekends.
They may have to take part in activities that require above-average strength and stamina.
Recreation therapists need to possess:
They should enjoy:
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 17 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 23, 2020 and Jun 18, 2021.
Review these skills to learn:
| Interview patients and review reports from health care professionals to determine patients' current and potential functioning levels | 17 |
|---|---|
| Observe and analyze patients during treatment sessions | 16 |
| Implement treatment plans | 16 |
| Design specialized therapy programs to maintain, rehabilitate or enhance movement, musculoskeletal functioning and performance in sports, work and recreation | 16 |
| Record observations, write progress reports and consult with other health care professionals to evaluate treatment plans | 15 |
| Prepare a treatment plan for each patient | 15 |
| Initiate, design and implement specialized therapy programs | 15 |
| Conduct research in the field of specialization | 14 |
| Area of Specialization: Recreational therapy | 12 |
| Provide education to clients regarding health promotion and injury prevention, management and treatment | 5 |
The minimum education requirement is a degree or diploma in recreation with a specialization in therapeutic recreation. A 4-year degree is generally required for employment as a recreation therapist in public health facilities and programs. Graduates of a 2-year diploma program may be hired as recreation therapy assistants. Employers also may require applicants to have:
Additional information about education related to recreation therapy is available from the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association website and the Therapeutic Recreation Directory.
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Recreation therapists work in a variety of settings, such as:
Advancement opportunities vary depending on the organization and the therapist’s academic qualifications.
Recreation therapists are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3144: Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment. In Alberta, 80% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In Alberta, the 3144: Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 56 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.68 | $76.09 | $37.84 | $35.81 |
| Overall | $17.77 | $87.82 | $44.90 | $42.63 |
| Top | $20.91 | $101.29 | $49.98 | $47.67 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $69,611 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $69,602 |
Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association website: www.alberta-tr.org
Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association website: canadian-tr.org/resources/educational-institutions
Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website: www.hsaa.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 22, 2018. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.