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NCTRC e-News
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
Protecting and Promoting Since 1981
Welcome to NCTRC e-News
New NCTRC Research Grant Program
NCTRC has recently developed a new Research Grant Program with the intent to:
- Provide opportunities for certificants, students, and practitioners pursuing CTRS® certification via the equivalency path to establish and maintain lines of research
- Promote collaboration between higher education faculty and practitioners
- Support research activities to support the provision of quality recreational therapy services ultimately protecting the consumers, and
- Promote the CTRS as the qualified provider of recreational therapy services.
Please be on the lookout as the Research Grant Application and deadlines for submission are released this summer!
NCTRC to Implement New Job Analysis and Exam Content Outline – Effective January 1, 2023
NCTRC completed a new Job Analysis Study in 2021. The purpose of the Job Analysis Study was to identify the tasks and knowledge that are important for competent performance by entry-level certificants. The findings of the Job Analysis Study serve as the basis of the NCTRC Certification Exam and inform the CTRS about content areas for continuing education.
An email containing the 2021 Job Analysis Report will be sent out shortly, and the revised NCTRC Exam Content Outline can be found here. The minor changes in practice that naturally occur over time as a profession evolves were noted in the 2021 Exam Content Outline. These changes are reflected in the category titles and how the information is bundled, and not in the actual knowledge and skills necessary for entry to practice.
The implementation date of the 2021 Job Analysis Study and revised Exam Content Outline will be January 1, 2023. Per recommendations of NCTRC’s exam development company and in alignment with best practices, beginning with the January 1, 2023 exam administration, the NCTRC exam will contain 120 items and include a combination of 3 and 4 option multiple choice questions.
Exam Statistics
A review of the July 2021, September 2021, November 2021, January 2022, March 2022, and May 2022 exams indicated that a total of 1512 individuals participated in the NCTRC exam program.
Provided below is a summary table that contains the number of candidates per exam administration and the corresponding pass rate of first-time examinees:
NCTRC Recertification Tutorial
NCTRC recently presented a tutorial on the Recertification process; please feel free to check out this video, as well as other recorded tutorials on the NCTRC website under Webinars. You can also visit the NCTRC YouTube Channel for a full list of educational and informative videos.
NCTRC Recertification Deadline
If your five-year expiration date is coming up, you should begin reviewing the rules and standards governing NCTRC Recertification. A complete copy of the NCTRC Recertification Standards can be viewed at the NCTRC website.
Please submit your recertification application and fee via My NCTRC Login, and be aware that the Recertification review process can take from 4-6 weeks for NCTRC to complete.
Important NCTRC Recertification reminders:
- Please do not submit Continuing Education documents with your application.
- If your application is selected for audit, you will be sent an email requesting that you submit your original, official documents to NCTRC via MY NCTRC Login and an Employment Verification Form.
- All continuing education hours must be related to one of the NCTRC Job Analysis Knowledge Codes (FKW – Foundational Knowledge, ASP – Assessment Process, DOC – Documentation, IMP – Implementation, ADM – Administration of TR/RT Service, ADV – Advancement of the Profession) and need to total 50 hours completed over the five-year period.
Continuing Education: The Opportunities are Endless:
Supervision
- Internship Students – A CTRS can earn a maximum of 15 continuing education credit hours (5 hours earned for each internship experience) by supervising a maximum of three (3) CE credit earning internship supervisory experiences per recertification cycle.
- Equivalency Path Applicants – A CTRS can earn a maximum of two (2) CE credit hours for each Equivalency Path applicant that is supervised, for a maximum of six (6) credits per recertification cycle.
For additional information, please review the Internship Supervision for Continuing Education Form and/or Supervision of Equivalency Path for Continuing Education Form.
Hospital/Agency Education
Many work-related educational sessions or in-services may be acceptable for recertification. (Please note that topics such as Infection Control, CPR, First Aid and Life Saving are not accepted.)
Academic Coursework
Coursework can be audited (8 hours per academic credit) or taken for credit (15 hours per academic credit). Academic courses may be taken online or through correspondence.
Teleconferences/Audio Seminars
A growing number of continuing education providers sponsor teleconferences.
Home Study Programs
Several organizations provide continuing education via professional journal review and home study courses. Like many online programs, educational material can be purchased for completion over an extended time.
Internet
A simple search for “continuing education” will provide many opportunities for consideration. Many of the internet/online-based continuing education programs can be purchased for a reasonable fee.
Remember that NCTRC offers a Continuing Education Pre-Approval Process. This process is designed to assist CTRSs in obtaining approval of pending or completed continuing education prior to the submission of a recertification application. It allows for official confirmation of continuing education to CTRSs who are not certain if specific continuing education opportunities meet NCTRC recertification requirements. This process is available to all current CTRSs and can be utilized at any time during the five-year certification cycle.
NCTRC is on Facebook!
NCTRC is now on Facebook. We are excited to open this new avenue of contact between you and the organization.
Recertify and Reinvest in Yourself.
NCTRC knows how hard you worked to obtain the CTRS® credential. Continue your professional journey by renewing your CTRS® certification.
Go further with an NCTRC Scholarship.
An NCTRC Scholarship recognizes the achievements of those who seek to advance their knowledge and professional competency to improve the quality of recreational therapy services.
Please contact NCTRC at 845-639-1439 or nctrc@nctrc.org.
Thank you for your continued support of NCTRC and the CTRS® credential!
