Recent News

Change in NCTRC Notification Process

Like many of us in our personal lives, NCTRC has implemented many changes in its work environment to reduce unnecessary waste and conserve precious resources. Advancements to the NCTRC website have resulted in significant savings in terms of paper use, mailings, and check processing.

 

In an effort to go one step further, NCTRC will no longer print and mail application packets to each CTRS for annual maintenance and recertification renewal. NCTRC records indicate that over 60% of CTRSs renew their annual maintenance and recertification on-line via the NCTRC website.

 

Beginning with the May 2010 renewal cycle, NCTRC will notify CTRSs of their pending renewal date by email or postcard. Printed application packets will be available only by request. It is expected that this decision will result in a decrease in paper applications and therefore, allow NCTRC to become a brighter shade of green.

 

For those individuals who need to recertify or renew during the current renewal cycle, NCTRC would like to remind you that the deadline for submitting your application and fee is quickly approaching:

 

•  If you are due to submit your annual maintenance application and fee, please do so by December 31, 2010 to avoid a reinstatement fee.

•  If you are due to recertify this November, an application was mailed to you by postal mail if you are in active standing. If you have not submitted your application and fee, please do so in order to waive the $50.00 recertification fee. Please submit your recertification application and fees by December 31, 2010 to avoid forfeiting your CTRS credential.

 

You may submit your application on-line by going to MY NCTRC LOGIN. Please contact NCTRC at 845-639-1439 if you have any questions or concerns.

 

We appreciate your support of the NCTRC Certification Program!

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New Continuing Education Pre-Approval Process

The NCTRC Board of Directors approved a new pre-approval process for continuing education coursework intended to be used with CTRS Recertification. The Pre-Approval Review Process was developed to assist certificants in determining whether previously completed continuing education meets current recertification requirements prior to submitting a formal recertification application. This process will provide potential confirmation of continuing education to certificants who are not certain if previously completed continuing education will 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. The Continuing Education Pre-Approval Review Process is not intended to replace the formal Recertification application process. The fee for the Pre-Approval Review is $35.00 per application submission and multiple course listings per application are permissible. Please contact NCTRC for additional information.

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NCTRC Certification Standards: Changes, Updates and Effective Dates
The NCTRC Certification Standards serve as the official guidelines for test eligibility status and govern all requirements pertaining to certification and recertification. It is the policy of the NCTRC Board of Directors to post notice of all standard changes well in advance to effective dates.

The NCTRC Board of Directors has approved the following changes to the Certification Standards.

1. Supportive Coursework Information - Anatomy and Physiology Requirement:

Effective Date: January 1, 2012

The content area of anatomy and physiology is required for professional certification because knowledge of human anatomy (bones, muscles, and body systems) and physiology (how those systems work and interface) is deemed essential to an educational foundation in therapeutic recreation. Across the continuum from inpatient care to independent enjoyment of recreation, from knowledge of pathology to the benefits of health promotion, the CTRS who facilitates the therapeutic recreation process in any way draws from knowledge of the human body. NCTRC believes that this foundation was best laid through the requirement of a course in anatomy and physiology. Typical course titles accepted by NCTRC include “Anatomy and Physiology” or “Human Anatomy and Physiology”, “Kinesiology” may be accepted as the physiology requirement if the applicant also completes a course in anatomy. If a single course is used to meet this requirement (ie: Human Anatomy and/or Human Physiology), then the course must address anatomy and physiology in equal parts (at least 50% of the course respectively). A course that is intended to serve as an entry-level Human Biology course does not meet the NCTRC Anatomy and Physiology requirement.

2. Content Coursework Information - Increase in Therapeutic Recreation Content Course Requirement:

Effective Date: January 1, 2013

Academic Path

“A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter credit hours of therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework with no less than a minimum of 15 semester or 20 quarter credit hours in therapeutic recreation content. A minimum of 5 courses in therapeutic recreation is required and each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours; AND…”

 

Equivalency Path A & B

“A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter credit hours of therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework with no less than a minimum of 15 semester or 20 quarter credit hours in therapeutic recreation content. A minimum of 5 courses in therapeutic recreation is required and each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours; AND…”

3. Content Coursework Information - Content Specific Therapeutic Recreation Coursework Requirement:

Effective Date: January 1, 2013

Content specific Therapeutic Recreation coursework will be required as part of the NCTRC professional eligibility requirements. The specific course content will include the following areas: a/ Assessment; b/ TR Process; and c/ Advancement of the Profession. It is recommended that each content area be addressed by a specific TR course and that at a minimum at least 50% of the course be devoted to the designated content material.

4. Field Placement Standards Information - Increase in the Number of Internship Weeks and Hours: Effective January 1, 2013 

Academic Path

A minimum 560-hour, fourteen (14) consecutive week field placement experience in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis.

 

5.  Field Placement Standards information - Academic Field Placement Supervisor must possess the CTRS Credential:

Effective January 1, 2013

The Academic Field Placement Supervisor must be an active CTRS at the start of the field placement experience and is required to sign the final Field Placement Verification Form signifying that the candidate completed all stated components of the NCTRC field placement requirements.

 

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NCTRC Military Reserve Status

The NCTRC Board of Directors approved at its April 2003 meeting (and reaffirmed at April 2010 meeting) a Military Reserve Certification Status for those CTRSs currently on active duty in the Armed Forces. NCTRC recognizes the efforts of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces and is committed to assisting them to maintain their CTRS or Professional Eligibility status.

During the period of Reserve Status, the qualified individual is not required to complete the NCTRC annual maintenance or recertification application, pay annual renewal fees, or complete the NCTRC exam if test eligible. A qualified individual can remain on NCTRC Reserve Status as long as he/she is on active duty within a United States military service, not to exceed a period of two years. NCTRC Reserve Status will cease as of the date of your official military discharge from active duty.

If you wish to apply for Military Reserve Certification Status or have any questions regarding the information outlined above, please contact NCTRC.

 

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