Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant Certificate

Edison College's Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant certificate is 23 weeks (462 hours): 20 weeks (372 hours) of self-paced online theory plus a 3-week (90-hour) supervised practicum.

Tuition is $10,626 CAD, plus $230 for books and a $100 application fee — $10,956 in total. Students receive a $2,000 student support award, and a current promotion offers a $500 gift card toward a computer.

Yes. Edison College offers flexible financing options, and eligible students may qualify for StudentAid BC funding. Eligible newcomers to Canada can also access low-interest loans of up to $15,000 through Windmill Microlending — covering tuition, books, fees, and living expenses, with free career coaching included. An admissions advisor can confirm which options apply to your situation.

Applicants need high school graduation or equivalent, or mature student status (19+ before the program starts), plus minimum Grade 10 English for domestic students.

Yes. Students complete a 3-week (90-hour) supervised practicum in a care setting in Victoria, BC — gaining real-world experience running resident-centred activity programs before graduation.

Yes — the 20 weeks of theory are delivered online with asynchronous, self-paced study. The 3-week practicum is completed in person in Victoria, BC, making the program hybrid overall.

Yes. The program includes three certifications B.C. care employers require: FoodSafe Level 1, Standard First Aid with CPR Level C, and the Provincial Violence Prevention Certificate.

No. This program is not equivalent to, nor recognized as, a BC Health Care Assistant Program, and graduates are not eligible for registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. For care aide roles in B.C.'s public health sector, see Edison College's Health Care Assistant certificate.

The curriculum covers therapeutic recreation planning and evaluation, person-centred care, practical dementia support, lifestyle and leisure education, interpersonal communication, and small-group activity leadership — applied through the supervised practicum.

Graduates work as activity aides, recreation assistants, therapeutic recreation assistants, dementia care activity aides, and wellness program coordinators — in long-term care and assisted-living homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, seniors' centres, and adult day programs.

Recreation and activity assistants in B.C. earn between $37,000 and $63,000 annually ($18.00–$30.47 per hour), with average earnings of about $42,752, according to WorkBC — with about 2,850 job openings projected as B.C.'s senior population grows.

In British Columbia, Edison College Canada (Victoria, BC) offers the Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant certificate, a 23-week / 462-hour program delivered by distance. This is an assistant-level credential that prepares students to support recreational programming.

Not necessarily. "Recreational therapy" and "recreation therapist" are sometimes used loosely online to describe a range of roles and credential levels. Edison's program is specifically the Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant certificate an assistant-level credential.

Yes. The program is reviewed and approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of British Columbia's Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Yes. Edison's therapeutic recreation certificate online program offers Distance learning as the delivery mode for this certificate, which may suit students who want to study without relocating to campus. Confirm current technology and scheduling requirements with admissions, since distance delivery still has its own participation expectations.

The theory portion of the certificate (20 weeks, 372 hours) is delivered through Distance learning and accessible from anywhere in Canada. The remaining 3-week, 90-hour practicum must be completed in person in Victoria, BC, so students should be able to travel to or be based near Victoria for that part of the program.

The program is delivered through Distance learning rather than in-person classes, so most coursework can be completed remotely. One component isn't remote: a 3-week, 90-hour practicum that must be completed in person in Victoria, BC. Confirm you can arrange to attend that in-person portion before enrolling.

Edison College's Therapeutic Recreation Assistant Certificate is a 5 month program that trains students to plan and support leisure and recreation activities for clients in care settings. It combines Distance-delivered theory with an in-person practicum in Victoria, BC. Graduates are prepared for roles such as recreation aide, activity assistant, and recreation assistant in long-term care, assisted living, and community settings.

No. This certificate prepares graduates for assistant- and aide-level roles — supporting and helping deliver recreation programs under direction — not for the Recreation Therapist role itself, which typically requires additional credentialing beyond a 20-week certificate. If you're specifically looking to become a recreation therapist rather than support one, confirm the credential requirements for that role before enrolling.

Graduates support recreation and activity programs in settings such as long-term care and assisted-living homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centres, community and seniors' centres, adult day programs, and disability-support organizations. Typical responsibilities include helping plan and deliver activities such as games, music, and crafts designed to support clients' physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The program runs 23 weeks (462 hours total): 20 weeks of Distance theory (372 hours) plus a 3-week, 90-hour practicum completed in person in Victoria, BC.

Coursework covers planning and supporting therapeutic recreation activities for clients in care environments. The program also includes three certifications commonly required by BC care employers: FoodSafe Level 1, Standard First Aid with CPR Level C, and the Provincial Violence Prevention Certificate.