FAQs

Regulatory College:

• Once a provincial government regulates a profession, the college for that profession becomes the regulatory body.
• The college holds its registered healthcare professionals accountable for their conduct and practice.
• Colleges will protect consumers’ rights to safe, competent, and ethical healthcare.
• Colleges are directed by councils, consisting of professionals (elected by their peers) as well as members of the public who represent the publics’ interests as healthcare consumers.
• Professional ATRA members at the time of the transition to the college will be eligible to be grandfathered in as registered professionals.

Criteria:

• Entry-to-practice registration requirements.
• Mandatory to be registered with the college to practice recreation therapy in Alberta.
• Established ethical and practice standards.
• Ensuring registrations hold appropriate professional liability insurance.
• Fair and timely investigation and resolution of public complaints and in some cases, more formal disciplinary hearings.
• Maintaining minimum standards of professional development and continuing education
• Title protection.
• A minimum amount of practice hours (‘currency’ hours) determined by the college must be accumulated working in the role of a Recreation Therapist or other approved titles/roles.

Professional Association:

• ATRA will be a separate entity to the college.
• Provides professional learning and development opportunities.
• Advances the profession through research and development.
• Membership is mandatory.

All in all, a regulator college is focused on the safety of the public, in protecting those receiving services from potential harm. Being registered with a college and being an active member of a professional association is considered best practice.

Certification:

• The certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) certification is a designated title for recreation therapists who have demonstrated professional competence by acquiring a specific body of knowledge and passed the NCTRC exam.

Regulation:

• Regulation is a set of requirements or consistent rules that define how regulated health professions provide ethical and competent service to the public.

Reference: NCTRC

• To ensure that the best and safest services are being provided to the consumer by professionals who have attained the appropriate training required for a recreation therapist.
• To ensure fair and consistent regulatory processes for registration and disciplinary procedures for all professions.
• To heighten the awareness, confidence and expectations of the public, patients, health employers and other health professionals. This would provide a clear understanding of the services provided and clinical outcomes to be obtained.
• Assure people trained in TR are providing TR and legitimizes the field by holding professionals accountable.
• Support continuity of care.
• Legitimize our profession by holding recreation therapists just as accountable as other professions, consequently increasing respect and visibility of TR as a profession.
• Define the scope of practice for recreation therapy, eliminating any confusion of our duties as recreation therapists.

Reference:

Why is Recreation Therapy Licensure Important? California TR Licensure Task Force: Dr. Laura McLachlin - lmclachlin@csuchico.edu; ATRA Licensure Task Force Chairperson: Debbie Robinson– Debbie@gndhome.co

• Watch for regular updates.
• Review presentations on regulation in our Knowledge Center.
• Talk about regulation with your colleagues and professional contacts.
• Watch for opportunities to be a member of the regulation committee.
• If you have a contact with a government official and would like some speaking points on ATRA’s pursuit of regulation or if you have any questions about regulation, please contact president@alberta-tr.ca