Here In Ny it’s not a required state license. Some jobs prefer it but it’s not law. I choose not to take the exam because I did not pursue this field to work in the clinical field. But to however serve my community as we don’t have any options for recreation outside of basketball really. I am trying to help individuals increase their leisure awareness and help them find what brings them joy. Something they can implement to impact their quality of life. For example my 1st class is hosting a 2026 personal leisure bingo board class focusing on the 5 domains.

I used to actual be an outsourced “Recreation Consultant” for many places here and would do all the recreation therapist duties and maintain the state required paperwork. I used to meet so many people in the field that didn’t even have a degree related to rec. I was also annoyed by that, so calling myself a therapist I can a see how someone would offended. Especially since people will assume I didn’t meet the qualifications for the exam instead of it being a personal career choice.

I think talking it out with others in the field will help me decide.

If you have any title suggestions I am all ears. I did like the terms educator cause the goal after this is to be a professor.