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CTRS’ Licensure Update

To: Nova Scotia Recreation Therapists (CTRS)
From: Nova Scotia Therapeutic Recreation Association (NSTRA) Licensure Committee
Date: October 17, 2025
Subject: Regulation of Recreation Therapists (CTRS) in NS

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The following is an update on NSTRA’s application for regulation of Recreation Therapists in Nova Scotia.

Licensure has been identified as a priority for our profession for many years. We are at a precipice, and your support is needed to ensure the viability of our application for regulation of practice.

The past twelve months have been very active on the regulation of health and other professions in Nova Scotia. As you may recall, the Government of NS passed the Regulated Health Professions Act in November 2023 which is a new act with respect to regulation of Health professions in Nova Scotia. Since that time, the province has moved forward with migrating several health professions with the intent of ensuring a wider scope of practice and financial security. This has resulted in the movement of some existing regulatory bodies to merge / combine with existing regulated bodies, the entry of new health professions into regulation (for example Laboratory Assistants), and a clear message from the province that professions seeking regulation (including Recreation Therapists) will be integrated into an existing regulatory body.

The NSTRA Licensure Committee has been working diligently with the province’s Policy Analysts to ensure our application is clear, concise and meets the framework, guidelines and standards developed by the province for new and existing regulatory bodies. That has resulted in updating the province with a Scope of Practice document, a modification of our original application for title protection to include Scope of Practice, a proposed college budget, and further information with respect to risk of harm.

In Nova Scotia, self regulation for the Recreation Therapist (CTRS) means not only protection of the public, but it will also allow job and training opportunities that we are currently not eligible for due to our nonregulated status. In addition, there is a preceptor premium that was included in the latest contract for NSGEU/CUPE. Given the length of the university internship, this would be approximately an additional $1,000 that is currently only available to regulated healthcare professionals.

In our conversations with the province, there is still expressed concern with respect to the financial viability of a Regulated Recreation Therapist body so each Recreation Therapist in Nova Scotia matters in our pursuit for self regulation.

On November 12th, 2025, the NSTRA Licensure Committee is hosting a ‘Town Hall’ which is open to all CTRS’ in Nova Scotia. It is being held on Zoom from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. We are hoping to answer questions and provide updates on where we are currently in the process. You can register for the town hall here.

Thank you for your time,

Shelley Smith and Rhonda Booth
Co-Chairs NSTRA Licensure Committee.