GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation
and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century

ORGANIZATIONS:
"NCTRC: National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Founded 1981, 17,170 Certified Personnel, 14 Staff, $1,000,000 Annual Budget"

by Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Ed.D., CTRS, Pres./CEO
Special Recreation for disABLED International

NCTRC. The National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification was founded in 1981 as "an independent credentialing agency designed to meet national credentialing standards in the US." Currently NCTRC has 17,170 professional personnel on its roster of Current Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists based on national examination, education, and experience.

NCTRC has a staff of 14 and an annual budget of $1,000,000.

Goals. NCTRC's goals are to:
__Establish national evaluative standards for certification and recertification
of individuals who work in the therapeutic recreation field.
__Grant recognition to individuals who voluntarily apply and meet established
standards.
__Monitor adherence to standards by certified personnel.

History. Recreation Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation Service "credentialing" began in the 1956 with CAHR: Council for the Advancement of Hospital Recreations (voluntary professional registration based on experience and education). This registration system was continued by the NTRS: National Therapeutic Recreation Society (founded 1966 as a branch of the National Recreation and Park Association).

Structure. NCTRC has a Board of Directors; Hearing Committee; and, Standards Review. It is affiliated with the American Therapeutic Recreation Association and the National Therapeutic Recreation Society branch of the National Recreation and Parks Association. NCTRC was founded in 1981 (see above).

Mission. The Mission of NCTRC is to protect the consumer of therapeutic recreation services by promoting the provision of quality therapeutic recreation services by NCTRC certificants. Unauthorized Use of any NCTRC designated trademark is strictly prohibited. NCTRC owns and reserves all rights to the following trademark designations and logos:

__NCTRC ®, National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification®;
__CTRS®, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist™; and,
__CTRA™, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Assistant™.

In pursuing its Mission,
__NCTRC Develop standards for certification.
__Establish standards of conduct and apply a disciplinary process.
__Conduct entry, recertification, and reentry testing.
__Maintain an up-to-date job analysis.
__Liaison with professional organizations re standards of practice.
__Verify certification for employers.
__Conduct research and development.
__Provide recertification and reentry.
__Liaison with educators to provide information and develop opportunities for
student acquisition of education and experience necessary for certification.
__Provide information to the public regarding standards, disciplinary processes, and certification.

Status. NCTRC is a Charter Member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA); and, is Accredited by NOCA's National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

NCTRC Functions. TRC establishes evaluative standards for the certification and recertification of professionals; grants certification to individuals who voluntarily apply and meet established criteria, and monitors adherence to these standards by certified therapeutic recreation professionals.

NCTRC Board. NCTRC's Board of Directors is elected by actively certified professionals. The Board is comprised of nine voting members and includes a consumer and an employer representative. Since the mission of the Council is to protect the consumer, it is critical that the consumer and employer have input into NCTRC's credentialing program.

The NCTRC WEBSITE includes:
About NCTRC
Background, Industry Standards, and Benefits of NCTRC
Certification Procedures and Requirements
Goals of the NCTRC
Links
Mission of the NCTRC To protect the consumer of therapeutic recreation services by promoting the provision of quality therapeutic recreation services by NCTRC certificants.
News
Newsletter
Publications National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification:
Certification Standards; and, NCTRC Newsletter, semiannual.
Services of NCTRC
Standards
Survey by NCTRC
Verification and the Value of Certification
Vision of the NCTRC

CONTACT
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)
Ms Peg Connolly, Ph.D., Exec.Dir.
7 Elmwood Dr.
New City, NY 10956 USA
TEL (914) 639-1439
FAX (914) 639-1471
EMAIL nctrc@nctrc.org
WEBSITE http://www.nctrc.org
___

GLOBAL VISION PROJECT:
Global Vision of Rehabilitation and Recreation
for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century
A JOINT PROJECT BY:
Disability International Foundation AND
Special Recreation for disABLED International

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