DOUGLAS COLLEGE
Therapeutic Recreation grads exceed international certification exam average

Douglas College Therapeutic Recreation grads continue to maintain a 100-percent pass rate on their certification exams, beating the national and international average by close to 20 percent.

From 2016-2018, all 39 Douglas graduates who sat the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam passed. The Canadian and international average pass rate for the same period is just over 82 percent.

NCTRC-certified graduates are Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, an internationally recognized designation.

The trend continues from 2015. Since that time, every Douglas Therapeutic Recreation graduate who took the exam has passed.

"Our students' success in the national exam is an endorsement of the quality of education they are receiving," said Karla Gronsdahl, Dean of the Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies. "The level of instruction and student engagement exceeds expectations, and it is showing up at the certification level."

A 100-percent pass rate on an international exam is a tremendous accomplishment, said Tricia Rachfall, Coordinator of the Therapeutic Recreation program.

"There are very few Therapeutic Recreation programs across North America that have consistently displayed such a high rate of success," she said. "It's a testament to the breadth and depth of knowledge and applied skills our students are exposed to, not only in the classroom but also in the community."

Therapeutic recreation is a field where recreation therapists use leisure activities to help improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of older adults, people with disabilities and those living with other health and life challenges. Douglas College offers a bachelor's degree and diploma in Therapeutic Recreation.