Professional FINAL EXAM

Lesson 1: Welcome to Professional Practice

• This course focuses on personal and professional development for future healthcare practitioners
• Key areas covered are job readiness skills, Therapeutic Recreation advocacy, and professional networking

Course Outcomes

• Develop job readiness by writing cover letters and resumes
• Build a LinkedIn profile and practice interview skills
• Understand professional credentialing and career goal-setting
• Understand Therapeutic Recreation and adopt advocacy strategies

Evaluation Breakdown

• TR Awareness SMORE Newsletter Project (30%): Educate others about Recreation Therapy by creating an interactive newsletter for TR Awareness Month (February). Each group of 3 members will create 4 widgets per person
• LinkedIn Profile Assignment (20%): Create a LinkedIn profile, complete a LinkedIn Learning course by Oliver Schinkten, and submit the profile URL
• Mock Interview & Job Application (10%): Submit a job application and participate in a mock interview with a community agency
• Final Exam (40%): In-person exam with multiple-choice and short-answer questions

Homework Readings

• "Advancing the Field of Recreation Therapy" by Salima Addetia
• "We Need More than a Keychain" by Bedini

Lesson 2: LinkedIn

• LinkedIn is a professional networking platform with 810 million+ members in over 200 countries
• The mission of LinkedIn is to connect professionals for career success
• Employers search for job candidates online and unprofessional social media posts can affect job opportunities

Assignment Requirements

• Create a LinkedIn profile, complete a LinkedIn Learning course by Oliver Schinkten
• The profile must include a professional profile picture & background image, headline & summary, and a customized profile URL
• Set "Open to Work" for recruiters
• Submit the LinkedIn profile URL in the assignment dropbox

Lesson 3: The Field of Recreation Therapy

• Current issues in Recreation Therapy (RT) in Canada include it being an emerging profession
• There are many misconceptions, a lack of awareness among healthcare teams, inconsistent education and job titles, and limited research on program outcomes
• Ways to strengthen the RT profession: continuing education, professional memberships via organizations such as TRO and CTRA, and advocacy efforts through newsletters, media, and events

Lesson 4: Continuing Education

• Canada lacks a standardized education requirement for Recreation Therapy (RT)
• Ontario offers different education levels: 1-year Postgraduate Certificates, 2-year Diplomas, and 3-4 year Degrees
• RT is not a regulated healthcare profession in Canada, but there are ongoing efforts for title protection and regulation (TRO initiative)

The Debate on Education Requirements

• There is a long-standing University vs. College debate in RT:
• University graduates focus on program design, research, and leadership
• College graduates focus on program implementation and direct client interaction
• Some professionals move from non-RT fields into RT roles

Importance of Professional Organizations

• Why join a professional organization?
• Keeps current with newsletters, conferences, research journals
• Advocacy & policy-making through voting rights, and committees
• Professional identity & networking through credentialing, webinars, workshops

Key Professional Organizations in Recreation Therapy

• International: Diversional Recreation Therapy Australia, New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapy, Korean Therapeutic Recreation Association
• Canada-wide: Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA), which prioritizes CTRS designation
• Provincial Organizations: Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO)
• British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland all have their own RT associations

Graduate Studies & Further Education

• Postgraduate Certificate Options (1-year programs)
• Autism & Behavioral Science
• Brain Disorder Management
• Concurrent Disorders Studies
• Mental Health & Disability Management

Career Paths with Further Education

• Hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities
• Job roles include Recreation Therapist, Rehabilitation Therapist, Community Worker, Case Manager University Transfer Agreements (Ontario):
• Brock University: 7.0 transfer credits
• Waterloo University: Under revision, but estimated 5+ transfer credits
• Seneca Polytechnic: 14 transfer credits

Lesson 5: Brock University Transfer Pathway

• Degree Options at Brock:
• Bachelor of Recreation & Leisure Studies (BRLS)
• Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation (BTR) – CTRS-eligible
• Benefits of a Bachelor's Degree:
• Higher career advancement opportunities
• Opens doors to grad school & professional certifications (e.g., CTRS)
• Internship opportunities in hospitals, rehab centers, mental health facilities
• Transfer Credits from Mohawk College: Students receive 7.0 credits towards their Brock degree

Career Paths for Graduates

• Recreation Management: Event Coordinator, City Recreation Manager
• Community & Mental Health: Alzheimer's program coordinator, community outreach worker
• Therapeutic Recreation: Recreation Therapist in hospitals, LTC, rehabilitation

Lesson 6: Credentialing

• Credentialing is an umbrella term for programs that define and recognize professional competence

Four Types of Credentialing

• Licensure / Regulation
• Certification
• Registration
• Accreditation

Licensure / Regulation

• Licensure is a government-issued permission allowing individuals to engage in a specific profession
• If a profession is regulated, it is mandatory to be licensed
• Annual fees apply for licensing
• Most Ontario professions became regulated in 1993
• Recently regulated professions (2007): Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Kinesiology, and Psychotherapy
• Regulated Health Professions Act establishes health regulatory colleges to protect the public
• Colleges ensure healthcare professionals are safe, ethical, and competent
• Colleges handle complaints and disciplinary actions

Process to Become a Regulated Profession

• Apply to the government and demonstrate public risk
• If approved, the government delegates authority to a professional college
• The college oversees scope of practice, code of ethics, and standards of practice

Certification

• Certification is a formal document recognizing proficiency in a trade or profession
• Certification is voluntary, not required for practice
• Recognizes education, experience, and professional requirements

NCTRC - National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

• Established in the US in the 1970’s and accredited in 1993 provides the CTRS credential
• CEU is Continuing Education Units
• CTRS Professional Eligibility - Academic Path requires a university degree in Recreation & Leisure Studies, 6 TR courses & 6 Supportive Courses, a 14-week, 560-hour internship under a CTRS, and passing the NCTRC exam
• Certification must be renewed every 5 years

Registration

• TRO (Therapeutic Recreation Ontario) has set up a voluntary registration process
• The R/TRO designation demonstrates excellence and requires assessment in formal education, supportive coursework, practical experience, and professional contributions
• The application fee is $165 (+HST)
• Submit proof of diploma & transcripts, practical experience verification, and professional contribution points
• Applications are reviewed 4 times a year in February, May, August, and November

Accreditation

• Accreditation is a voluntary self-regulatory evaluation process
• Establishes that an institution, program, or service meets certain standards

National Status

• CTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association) recognizes CTRS and ATRA (American Therapeutic Recreation Association) is moving towards regulation instead

Lesson 7 Assessing the Job Ad

• Understand how to analyze job postings, determine job requirements, required skills, and suitability

Where to look for jobs/employees

• Job Seeker :
• Job advertisements
• Personal Network
• Positions related to personal experience
• Employer :
• Internal hiring
• Rely on personal networks
• job advertisements

Research The Labour Market

• Networking, and social media

Lesson 8 The Resume

• Match skills to job requirements
• Highlight your Soft and Hard Skills
• Use the exact wording from the job ad

General Resume Rules

• Font Size: No smaller than 11, 12 preferred
• Length: Maximum of 2 pages
• Order in reverse chronological order
• Include your name on the second page

Cons in resume writing

• Free Word templates may not be the best
• Some templates look too generic
• Templates can be difficult to edit due to pre-set formatting
• The Heading :Keep it simple include Phone number, Professional email address, and LinkedIn profile

Customize this section for each job application

• Use the same wording as the job ad
• For Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and HR grading
• Use SAR Statements(Situation, Action, Result)

Linking Skills to the Job Ad

• Skills - Hard
• At St. Joseph's Healthcare, designed and implemented a 4-week stress management program
• At Macassa, collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to enhance resident outcomes Highlight the most relevant qualifications first
• List experiences in reverse chronological order
• Use SAR statements and industry language

Lesson 9 Entrepreneurship in TR

• is the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit

Different forms include

• Freelancing and Contract/gig economy, Start-up, Family business and Side hustle
• The Entrepreneurial Mindset includes: Willingness to take risks, Creativity and innovation, and Problem-solving skills, Resilience and adaptability, and Vision and leadership
• Support Events: DEFY Support Women in Entrepreneurship, Annual conference, Holiday party, International Women's Day, MINDSHIFT Week and Workshops

MOHAWK'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONNECTION

• Provide networking opportunities and events
• Connects students with industry partners

The SURGE Experience

• spark program including monthly mentorship access, surge workbook and training, and access to specialized workshops
• ignite provides access to a legal team, mentorship, funding, and network access

Lesson 11: Interviews

The Role of the Interview

• is to provide an opportunity