NCTRC Practice Exam

The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam is designed to assess the entry-level knowledge and skills of those wishing to provide recreational therapy services. If you pass the exam, you will be awarded the CTRS certification.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free NCTRC practice exam!

NCTR Certification Exam Eligibility

To be eligible for the exam, you must meet all of the requirements that fall under one of the following equivalency paths:

Academic Path

• You must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university or college, a major in recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation or a major in therapeutic recreation. An official transcript is required.
• You must meet the requirements for professional and supportive coursework.
• You must complete an internship supervised by a CTRS, with a minimum of 14 weeks/560 hours.

You may apply for the exam prior to degree completion with the following requirements:

• Enrolled in a degree program for Recreational Therapy (meeting NCTRC standards)
• Completed a minimum of 90 credit hours
• Completed requirements for professional and supportive coursework

You must complete internship requirements prior to receiving the CTRS certification.

Equivalency Path

• You must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
• You must meet the professional and supportive coursework requirements
• You must complete at least 1 year of full-time paid work experience in recreational therapy, supervised by a CTRS

NCTR Certification Exam Outline

The NCTRC exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions, 20 of which are unscored, and you will be given a 3-hour time limit.

The exam is split into six content areas, and each area is split into two objectives:

1. Professionalism (12%)

The questions in this area assess your ability to develop professional relationships and maintain professional competency.

Develop professional relationships

• Communicate with interdisciplinary teams
• Advocate for clients’ rights
• Educate internal and external stakeholders about the scope of practice

Maintain professional competency

• Maintain professional qualifications
• Comply with professional standards of practice and code of ethics
• Understand trends in RT/TR practice
• Participate in committees
• Apply concepts of cultural competence

2. Assessment (19%)

The questions in this area assess your ability to conduct assessments and apply assessment data to plan care.

Conduct the assessment process

• Establish a therapeutic relationship with clients
• Gather primary and secondary data
• Apply knowledge of developmental and diagnostic characteristics
• Determine strengths and limitations using findings from gathered data
• Determine assessment tools to establish outcomes

Apply assessment data to plan care

• Create goals and objectives
• Prioritize client strengths and needs
• Communicate data to client and service providers

3. Planning (18%)

The questions in this area assess your ability to develop individualized care plans and program services.

Develop individualized plan of care

• Utilize practice theories
• Utilize RT/TR service delivery models
• Align goals and objectives that support delivery of service

Design program services

• Engage in logistical program planning
• Use activity/task analysis to provide quality services
• Design programs based on the interests, needs, and abilities of the client
• Select intervention approaches, techniques, and modalities
• Identify formative evaluation techniques to determine program effectiveness
• Determine activity modifications

4. Implementation (25%)

The questions in this area assess your ability to deliver program services while adhering to risk management protocols.

Deliver program services

• Determine the steps needed to implement services
• Explain the purpose of the program
• Establish a facilitation structure and leadership approach
• Implement the program
• Monitor the effectiveness of the program

Adhere to risk management protocols

• Utilize safety protocol components
• Provide a safe environment by identifying relevant precautions

5. Evaluation and Documentation (16%)

The questions in this area assess your ability to document client progress and any program and client incidents.

Document client progress

• Complete progress notes
• Communicate with service providers on client progress
• Develop transition plans
• Conduct an evaluation of program effectiveness

Document program and client incident

• Identify policies and procedures for reporting specific incidents
• Document specific incident details

6. Administration (10%)

The questions in this area assess your ability to document client progress and any program and client incidents.

Maintain department documentation

• Adhere to agency policies regarding documentation
• Follow the service plan of operation
• Identify RT/TR service regulations
• Adhere to agency fiscal management

Assign and monitor personnel

• Assist with supervision and education of volunteers, students, and staff
• Contribute to staff performance appraisals
• Maintain an internship program

NCTR Certification Registration

After completing the requirements for the academic path, you can apply for the exam on the NCTRC website. If the application is approved, you can schedule their test appointment at a PSI test site. The exam is offered 6 times a year, with a two-week window to schedule and take the test.

The exam registration fee is $325.

NCTRC Exam Fees

Fee	Amount
New Application for Professional Eligibility Review	$125
Returned Application Processing	$25
Pre-Application Coursework Review	$35
Exam Registration	$325
Exam Rescheduling	$25
Bank Checks from Foreign Countries	$25
Returned Check	$50
Rejected Credit Card	$20

 

Test Day

In-person Testing

To ensure a quick check-in process, you should arrive at your testing location about 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. Once you arrive, a Test Center Administrator (TCA) will ask you to present two forms of valid identification, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. A member of the Prometric staff will take your picture, do a metal detector scan on you, and capture a digital image of your fingerprint before you enter the testing room.

You will then be asked to put any personal items in a secure locker outside the testing area. The only things you are permitted to bring to the check-in station are your ID papers, your locker key, and a pair of foam earplugs in an unopened container.

When it is time for the exam to begin, you will be led to your testing area and given a brief tutorial on the testing system before you start the exam.

Live Remote Proctoring

Before you sign on to check in for your exam, clear your workspace of everything but your ID, two pieces of blank paper, a writing utensil, a keyboard, and a mouse. There should be nothing on or around your workspace, including cell phones, recording devices, water bottles, drinks, or food.

When you sign on for your exam, you will be asked to present your government-issued ID to the proctor, and then the front and back of your scratch paper and writing utensil. The proctor will ask for you to move the camera around your workspace, and you may be asked to remove items from your desk, adjust lighting, or adjust your microphone and webcam. Once the proctor is satisfied with your testing space, your exam begins.

During your exam, you must keep the microphone and webcam on and remain in view of the webcam at all times.

How the NCTR Certification Exam is Scored

The NCTRC exam is scored using a scaled scoring system. This system takes the number of questions you answered correctly and converts it to a numerical score on a scale of 100-500. The passing scaled score for this exam is 293.

You will receive an immediate pass/fail notification when you finish the exam.

FAQs