Credentialing of therapeutic recreation in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Therapeutic recreation (TR) was first developed in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) in the 1970s. Initially, TR services were primarily diversional in nature and was offered in hospitals and nursing homes. Today, services are offered more broadly and include diversional programmes as well as more purposeful interventions designed to bring about change in clients. One of the main controversies facing the TR field in NL stems from credentialing of the profession. In 2012, Eastern Health adopted new hiring qualifications for TR practitioners including certification through the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) for all new Recreation Development Specialists. This paper will outline a number of issues related to certification as the chosen method of professional regulation of TR in NL.