Regulation- For Members

The Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) is the provincial body representing the profession since its inception in 1985.  It is a voluntary association that in the absence of regulation has provided governance to its members through establishing standards of practice, a code of ethics, entry to practice requirements and a continuing competence program.  ATRA is registered under the Societies Act and is currently pursuing regulation under the Health Professions Act (HPA). 

We support residents, patients, and clients who may be vulnerable, frail, palliative, lonely, isolated, or feeling depressed. These individuals may face challenges such as a loss of control and independence and a lack of support systems, which may leave them at risk of abuse—whether physical, sexual, financial, or emotional—from others, including trusted healthcare professionals. This risk may be heightened for those receiving one-on-one care, especially when they are alone in their homes.

The fundamental concerns and inadequacies of recreation therapy being an unregulated profession:

• No mandatory registration.
• No title protection.
• No authority to register or investigate complaints from employers regarding unprofessional conduct of individual recreation therapists, which poses a potential risk to clients and employers.
• Recreation therapists not being subject to the same discipline that those under the HPA are held accountable to.
• Clients assuming that recreation therapists are regulated and as such are potentially vulnerable due to the lack of regulatory safeguards in place to ensure that all recreation therapists in the province are registered, meet standards of practice, code of ethics, education and continuing competence requirements.
• Recreation therapists who are unaware of the boundaries between psychosocial intervention and the restricted activity of psychosocial intervention which requires supervision by an authorized regulated health professional, specialized training, and meeting defined competencies.

Regulation of recreation therapists would enhance protection measures to residents, patients and clients. Regulation would heighten the awareness, confidence and expectations of the public, clients, health employers and other health professionals. It would provide a clear public interest mandate and would enable education of the public as to the role of a recreation therapist in a collaborative healthcare team. The public would be able to access the appropriate services that they require, as there would be clear expectations of the service provided and clinical outcomes to be obtained by a recreation therapist.

Reference: Health Professions Act, April 1, 2024 https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=H07.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779845323