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  • Recreation Therapy

Recreation Therapy

Ministry-approved title: Recreation Therapy


Credential
Ontario College Diploma
Location
Oshawa
OCAS Code
RETH
Next Intake
September 2025
View all intakes
Faculty
Faculty of Health Sciences (HS)
Length
Four semesters
Delivery
In person Learn more.
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Program Overview

Recreation therapy is a rewarding career providing meaningful and healthy leisure activities that improve the quality of life for people of all abilities and ages. Recreation therapists offer a range of services, including assessing client needs, developing programs, goal-setting, group facilitation and evaluation of interventions. This program incorporates two field placements in the community so our students have the hands-on experience to launch their careers in the field with confidence.

Intakes and Availability

Date Domestic Availability International Availability
September 2025WaitlistedOpenApply now
ProgramHighlights
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Durham College 2025 Program Guide
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Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
    AND
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.

Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.

DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:

  • Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
  • Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
  • Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
  • Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.


Tuition

  • Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
  • Year one international: $15,309 (CAD)

View full costs


Semester 1 Courses

  • Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Principles Of Health Conditions and Management 1 (HLTH 1107)
  • Introduction to Person Centred Support (HLTH 1108)
  • Developmental Psychology (PSYC 1104)
  • Positive Psychology (PSYC 1105)
  • Introduction to Recreation Therapy (RECL 1100)

View all courses


Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Recreation therapist
  • Activity aide
  • Exercise therapist
  • Life enrichment manager
  • Recreation program leader
  • Recreational therapist
  • Life enrichment coordinator
  • Activity coordinator
  • Recreation programmer

View all career options

Connect with us

I AM A CANADIAN APPLICANT

Contact recruitment
Live Chat
905.721.3126

Fill out the form to get more information on your program of interest, upcoming events, and how to become a Durham College student. By submitting your information below, you consent to Durham College contacting you via email and/or SMS with a minimum of 4 messages per month. You may withdraw consent at any time.

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I HAVE ALREADY APPLIED

Email admissions
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905.721.3000

I AM AN INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT

Contact
Live Chat
905.721.2000 ext. 7697

I HAVE ALREADY APPLIED

Please contact the international office.

Program Details

Graduates of the program develop and deliver recreation and leisure activities to people living with physical, mental, cognitive, emotional or social limitations. They are skilled in their assessment techniques and ability to provide person-centred therapeutic interventions that improve quality of life.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Assess the interests, strengths, needs, and social, physical and mental health challenges of individuals and groups utilizing a person-centred approach when designing healthy leisure opportunities and improving quality of life.
  2. Collect, record and report comprehensive client information, in verbal, written and electronic formats in accordance with current ministry guidelines and professional standards.
  3. Evaluate the design and delivery of recreational and educational programs in meeting client needs and improving quality of life.
  4. Design and deliver therapeutic recreation programs, leisure education programs and services by utilizing technology to promote personal, social, economic and health related benefits of recreation therapy services.
  5. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with clients, families, inter-professional teams and community service providers in the development and delivery of safe and effective recreation therapy services.
  6. Assist in the development of administrative, marketing, financial and human resource strategies that enhance the delivery of services and promote small business objectives and goals.
  7. Implement strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to support the growth of therapeutic recreation as a profession.

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
    AND
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.

Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.

DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:

  • Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
  • Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
  • Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
  • Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.

Semester 1

  • Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Principles Of Health Conditions and Management 1 (HLTH 1107)
  • Introduction to Person Centred Support (HLTH 1108)
  • Developmental Psychology (PSYC 1104)
  • Positive Psychology (PSYC 1105)
  • Introduction to Recreation Therapy (RECL 1100)

Semester 2

  • Academic Writing for Success Strategies (COMM 2715)
  • Field Placement Prep (FDPL 1203)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Principles Of Health Conditions and Management 2 (HLTH 1203)
  • Professional Practice for Recreation Therapy (RECL 1200)
  • Program Planning for Recreation Therapy (RECL 1201)

Semester 3

  • Interpersonal Skills In Recreation Therapy (COMS 2100)
  • EValuating Recreation Therapy Programming (RECL 2100)
  • Assessment and Therapeutic Interventions 1 (RECL 2101)
  • Field Placement 1 (RETH 2100)

Semester 4

  • Entrepreneurship In Recreation Therapy (ENTR 2208)
  • Assessment and Therapeutic Interventions 2 (RECL 2200)
  • Field Placement 2 (RETH 2200)
  • Therapeutic Recreation for Diverse Populations (SOCI 2200)

Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

Course delivery

In person

Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

In person:
Course is delivered in person, on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Hybrid:
Part of the course is delivered online, remotely, and part is in-person on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Online:
Fully remote course delivery.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Recreation therapist
  • Activity aide
  • Exercise therapist
  • Life enrichment manager
  • Recreation program leader
  • Recreational therapist
  • Life enrichment coordinator
  • Activity coordinator
  • Recreation programmer

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

  • Acute or chronic care hospitals
  • Addiction treatment centres
  • Children’s treatment centres
  • Community living organizations
  • Community-based agencies
  • Day programs
  • Long-term care homes
  • Mental health facilities
  • Municipal recreation departments
  • Palliative care
  • Private practice
  • Rehabilitation programs
  • Retirement living

Field Placement

This program is strengthened by the integration of two mandatory field placements, one each in semesters three and four. Students access work environments and practitioner expertise to develop skills in the planning, implementation and evaluation of recreational and leisure activities and programs.

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Student Permit Checking (ESPC), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:

  • Service fees for Verified, our documentation collection and ESPC verification partner.
  • Costs to complete mandatory immunizations, lab tests, and certifications.

It is required that students have completed the ESPC with Verified to be eligible for all field placement components of this program. Prior to each placement you must (at your expense) provide:

  • A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). If you cannot provide a clear CRC with VSS, you may not be accepted for placement by a field placement agency. CRCs with VSS must be obtained from your local police station. You may be required to obtain additional CRCs with VSS to meet field placement agency requirements.
  • Current Level C CPR from a recognized provider.
  • Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider.
  • Entry immunization form completed by a health care provider.
  • Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination may be required by the field placement site.
  • Recreation Therapy ERV Information Package

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.

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Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.

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2000 Simcoe St. N.
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