Licensure
WHAT DOES LICENSURE MEAN?
Our licensure goal is to establish self-regulation to provide title protection. Our self-regulation application outlines our request for title protection. This means that the title of Recreation Therapist could only be used by individuals holding the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) designation.
WHEN WILL WE GET LICENSED?
2019
Our application was submitted in May 2019 followed by confirmation in July 2019 that our application was being considered and was in the queue. Communication has continued since that time with Cindy Cruickshank, Director, Health Workforce Policies & Programs, and her staff regarding the status of our application and what additional information would assist in moving our application to an active file.
In late 2019 the Licensure Committee met with Mr. Bruce Holmes the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Regulated Health Professions Network to explore support of our licensure goal and further develop a relationship with that organization. Mr. Holmes proved to be a wealth of information and suggested several avenues for assisting us in our goal. These are being acted on by both the Licensure Committee and the NSTRA Board.
2020
In January and February 2020, members of the Licensure Committee and the NSTRA Board of Directors met with Robert Chisholm, former leader of the Nova Scotia NDP and Federal Member of Parliament regarding how to lobby our local MLA’s and highlight the role of Recreation Therapy within the public. We were fortunate to have Robert Chisholm join us at our Virtual AGM and Workshop in October 2020.
During Therapeutic Recreation Month 2020, Members of the Licensure Committee and the Board of Directors met with the Honourable Randy Delorey to declare February as THERAPEUTIC
RECREATION Month in the Province of NS. This also allowed an opportunity to discuss and receive insight into how best to move our file forward.
On June 12th, 2020, members of the Board were invited to a meeting with Doctor NS to share information about the scope of Recreation Therapy Professionals and the NSTRA Report “Relieve Burden in the Healthcare System by Advocating for Recreation Therapy Services and ‘Social Prescription’”. The result of this meeting included connections to the Primary Health Physicians Group and The Chair of the College of Family Physicians.
On July 24th, 2020, members of the Licensure Committee met with a Department of Health and Wellness Senior Legislative Policy Analyst regarding our application for self-regulation and as a result, the Committee submitted supplemental information to support our application specific to COVID-19 and the role of Therapeutic Recreation.
2021
In March 2021, we received an email from the Department of Health and Wellness indicating that our file remains on their workplan, however, the pandemic and vaccination roll-out has significantly impacted their non-COVID projects. They noted that based on their timelines, it could be Fall 2021 when they request a meeting with us.
The Association continues to foster relationships with key organizations in the province including The Healthy Tomorrow Foundation, Recreation Nova Scotia and Doctors NS which can only highlight our profession and thus create additional support for our goal. We have been invited to present at the DNS Family Doctor’s Council and write an article for the Doctor’s Nova Scotia Magazine!
WHAT WOULD THE ANNUAL LICENSURE FEES BE FOR A RECREATION THERAPIST TO BECOME A REGISTRANT WITH THE COLLEGE OF RECREATION THERAPISTS?
The proposed registrant fees in our submission budget to the Department of Health and Wellness is based on an anticipated 150 registrants and is $500.00 per annum. The expenses of operating a college include the employment of a part time Administrative Support person and a fund for disciplinary processes that may incur and could involve the engagement of legal counsel.
WHY IS THE PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP CTRS FEE MORE THAN THE OTHER MEMBERSHIP FEES?
The professional membership CTRS fee includes an earmarked amount to be contributed to the licensure efforts. The professional membership CTRS fee is $150, of that $75 is put into the licensure funds.
HOW DO THE PROPOSED FEES FOR THE COLLEGE OF RECREATION THERAPISTS COMPARE TO FELLOW LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS PT, OT, SW AND PSYCHOLOGISTS?
The lowest fee paid by any allied health professional/licensed practitioners is by Social Workers at $ 416.00 per annum. Registration with the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists is $440 annually, with modest additional fees for clinic/business owners in private practice and the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia is $490 annually. There are many more Social Workers, Occupational Therapists as well as Physiotherapists in NS than Recreation Therapists. In comparison, Psychologist’s annual registration fee is $ 815.00 per annum.
WILL OUR NSTRA PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP FEES REMAIN AT THEIR CURRENT LEVEL POST SET-UP OF THE COLLEGE OF RECREATION THERAPISTS?
Currently, the Certified Recreation Therapist Professional Membership fee is $ 150.00 per annum of which $75.00 goes to a fund to establish the College of Recreation Therapists. It is therefore imperative all CTRS’ practicing in Nova Scotia help contribute to the funding of the NS College of Recreation Therapists. There is a requirement by the Province of Nova Scotia that an applicant such as NSTRA have sufficient financial resources to establish a College. Therefore, once the College is established, the annual membership fees for NSTRA would be the same as for all professional members, i.e. $ 75.00 per annum.
HOW WILL LICENSURE EFFECT NON-CTRS MEMBERS?
If self-regulation is granted, NSTRA will continue as a membership focused organization, while the regulator (aka the “College”) will be the public interest focused organization, much in the same way as groups like the “College of Physicians and Surgeons” and “Doctors Nova Scotia” have split the membership and regulatory functions.
Once we have an Act proclaimed in NS we will also move forward with the establishment of a registration process for all other Recreation Therapy Professionals in the province.
WILL LICENSURE HAVE IMPACT RELATED TO RECREATION THERAPY JOB POSTING REQUIREMENTS?
Currently, when we become aware of job postings that do not accurately reflect our education and scope of practice, we do respond to the hiring organization. Licensure would protect the title, thus only those individuals holding the CTRS designation could be hired as a Recreation Therapist. Licensure would not only ensure a strong foundation for discussion with employers regarding all position descriptions within Recreation Therapy service areas but also ensure only qualified applicants are hired and practice as Recreation Therapists in the Province of Nova Scotia.
Additionally, licensure will enable Recreation Therapists to obtain employment in non traditional roles that reflect our education and scope of practice. Examples include positions that require a licensed health profession. There have been several job postings over the years that have led to NSTRA advocating for the inclusion of the Recreation Therapist role, however, many of these employers have identified that a ‘licensed’ healthcare professional was required.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Nova Scotia has a significant CTRS presence and moving forward together is critical. We need CTRS’s in the province to continue to be active members of our Association. Numbers matter to the government! Currently out of 191 CTRS who declare a Nova Scotia address, only 87 are members. This may suggest to the Department of Health and Wellness and the Government that there really is a lack of commitment and perhaps qualified Recreation Therapists are not as significant and critical contributors to the health and community service delivery when compared to their licensed counterparts. Please reach out to your colleagues, let them know their continued membership counts and if you are currently a member, please renew your membership. Licensure can happen with the collective support of all CTRS’ in NS. Now is the time to join NSTRA as we prepare to potentially be called on in Fall 2021.
You could illustrate how Recreation Therapy has made a difference in the current Covid 19 pandemic with specific case examples and anecdotal information.
You could assist in the compilation of information and completion of a literature review on topics in Therapeutic Recreation. If you are interested in this, we can help you with the evidence framework.
WHO DO I TALK TO WITH FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT LICENSURE?
Email licensure@nstra.info or contact the Licensure subcommittee co-chairs:
Heather Baker, CTRS
licensure@nstra.info
Rhonda Booth, CTRS
Rhonda.Booth@nstra.info
Shelley Smith, CTRS
advocacy@nstra.info