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 $1,000 completion 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.

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.