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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 21, 2014 03:27 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative John P. Sabatina, Jr. |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Recreational Therapists Practice Act |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation providing for licensing requirements for recreational therapists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 1,530 individuals working within the field of recreational therapy in Pennsylvania (PA), however only 700 of these individuals are nationally certified as recreational therapists who have obtained the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). The CTRS credential indicates that a person possesses the basic competencies to practice as a recreational therapist. This means that over half of those individuals practicing as recreational therapists in PA are NOT nationally certified as recreational therapists and might not possess the basic competencies to practice recreational therapy. This is a major concern for the safety and welfare of PA citizens. Because the NCTRC is already established as the national credentialing entity for the profession, the state would not be burdened with creating new examinations or competencies, as the NCTRC would report information on those individuals who have passed the examination and met all required competencies. Presently, four states have enacted legislation addressing the licensing of recreational therapists using the NCTRC’s CTRS credential as a mechanism for licensing (Utah, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and North Carolina). Other states are in various stages of seeking licensure including New York, Maine, Virginia, Illinois, New Mexico, and California. Ultimately, the goal of this legislation is protecting the citizens of PA from harm. By providing licensing for credentialed recreational therapists practicing in the state, we can ensure these individuals have met the standards of educational and practical ability necessary to serve our citizens in a safe and capable manner. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2290