MissyJ 0 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Just was wondering... I have been to training and am now a "trained activity director" Whatever that means, am I certified? Licensed? and what is next. I am interested in continuing education but not sure what the next step up is. I looked and found like recreational therapist but that seems like a huge jump instead of a step. haha.. any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennie 26 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Hi Missy, If you took the required courses either from your State and/or NCCAP then you would be a "Certified Activity Director". You would have recieved a certificate stating that you are certified, also it wil have an expiration date on it. To keep your certification you must con't to get CEU's. Your state & NCCAP may require different number of CEU's for you to renew, so be sure to check on this. If you wish to advance from AD then you could work towards becoming a Activity Director Consultant, you must have a BA to go for this, the same goes for TR, OT etc.. You can as far as you wish with education and not mention the green stuff (money) If you still don't quiet understand all of this let me know. You can email me or PM me. It is confusing at first, I know I was. I use to ask my instructor, so how do I sign my paper work now? AD or AD/TXC (Texas Certified) or do I use both etc.. It was just something I couldn't get my head around. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissyJ 0 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 I have a certificate saying I attended activity director training. There is no exp. date. And how do you sign your paper?? ' PS. thanks for the reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope 0 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 My confusion is similar: I graduated two months ago (4.0) with a 2 year Associate Degreein Therapeutic Recreation, and was given a copy of a letter dated 1992 from the Indiana State Board (Department) of Health, stating that"The two-year therapeutic recreation program at Vincennes University has been approved for Activity Directors Certification. These majors can work in any nursing home in the State of Indiana as Director of Activities." I work part-time in Activities, and my administrator recognizes it to be an AD, but my AD still thinks I need to take that 90 hour Activity course. When I applied for a position with another company after graduation, that administrator did not recognize the qualification and said I would have to take the course. I, too, do not know what to sign my name: my AD ordered me a name badge with "CRT"-(certified Recreational Therapist), but I don't know where certification comes in or from-from the IADA, from the Board of Health, or NCAAP. I'm thinking by now that certification doesn't happen unless you join on the those professional associations, although legally the ISDH will recognize my AS degree as qualified to be an AD. ISDH's website was of no help-they don't even list Recreational Therapists or Activity Directors the way they list OTs, PTs, SLPs, or even barbers for certification, licensing, etc.! BTW, my diploma only states the Associate Degree-not the subject, but that is the way they do it here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StacieO 0 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Hope: I am a CTRS (Cert. Therapeutic Rec. Specialist) - I have a 4 year degree & have taken & passed my Certification test through the National Council for Therapeutic Rec. Certification. That may be a place to check - www.nctrc.org is the web site. They may be able to help w/ your questions. I can understand you signing TR behind your name, if that is your degree, but if you haven't taken/passed the certification through NCTRC, I'm not sure if you can include the "C", as you said your supervisor had them put on your name tag. Again, I'm not sure, but I know that I was instructed that until I had passed that test I could only use "TRS". Once I had passed the test, I was certified. I have to maintain that certification also - through CEU's & a yearly maintenance fee w/ NCTRC. If I have enough CEU's in a 5 year period, I do not have to take the certification test again, which I hope I never have to do! I have been certified for 9 years & have never had an issure w/ my degree/certification. I don't know if this information is of any help to you, but good luck! Also - check your state regs as far as what they require for credentials. In Minnesota (where I live/work) our requirements say, a person maybe: ADC, OT/R, COTA, TRS, or CTRS. I would guess each state is a bit different in what they require. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn56 0 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 It has been a long time since I visited this board. Lots of new info here. I also live in Indiana. My background is a BS in Elementary Ed.(also 2 master classes to renew license, an AS in accounting, some Medical Assisting Classes. I have been interested in Activity Directing for quite some time. Recently I applied for a job as a parttime AD in a Nursing/Assisted living center - they wanted someone with a high school diploma or GED and the certification class. I said that I would like to begin working and take a certification class this summer - which costs 530 dollars (Plus lots of commuting a long distance for several weeks each day) then a practicum. They said I had too much education! The job paid only 7 something an hour for 24 hours a week - I was hoping considering my education they might be willing to hire me - then pay part of the cost (or all of it for the cert training). They are more interested in hiring a high school grad or GED with the cert training than me. They have had alot of turn over in this position. Can anyone in Indiana give me a run down of the best training programs - in person or online and costs. What can I expect on a job to be paid? 530 is a lot of money when you consider I already have tons of education and training - to then make 7 an hour. However most jobs in small town Indiana don't pay much. By the way - teaching jobs are non existent in Indiana and the midwest - so this is why I want to branch out to a different career path. I don't want to invest more money (besides still owing tons of student loans) on more education and still not get a job out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_Kathy Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 First let me address being an ADC. (Activity Director Certified) You can only be an ADC if you went through the NCCAP certification process. That would be to sucessfully complete the requirements for the "Track" that you are interested in. Merely taking a course (MEPAP or Otherwise), sucessfully completing it and receiving a certificate from the course is NOT NCCAP certified. There are 4 components for most of the NCCAP Tracks. For additional information go to the www.nccap.org website. There is a lot of information availble about the MEPAP Courses as well as people to contact about your specific state requirements including the NCCAP State Reps. Please remember that if you use the initials ADC and are not NCCAP certified you could be sued for trademark infringement. Also remember that someone who signs their notes RN and isn't an RN can be in a lot of trouble. This would be the same thing. Second if you go the the NCCAP website (www.nccap.org) and click on "MEPAP Course Instructor Listing" you will be able to find a list of NCCAP pre-approved instructors as well as homestudy and online opportunities. Remember that the instructor has been pre-approved, not the course. Upon successful completion you will receive a certificate of attendance, This is NOT a NCCAP certification. It is one step towrad NCCAP certification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn56 0 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 This job I applied for makes no sense then - because they want a GED or High School Grad with Certification to be an Activity Director - and you can not be a director and have certification at that level of education according to what I am reading on the certification site. No wonder they can't find someone to work parttime as an Activity Director for 7 bucks an hour - the level of certification training required and practicum is more than a teacher or nurse needs to get a license! In order to renew a teaching license in my state you only need 6 college credits every 5 years and nurses don't have to take any renewal credits or CEU's. It would seem the places doing the hiring don't really understand what certification means either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_Kathy Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 It's my wish that someday all Admininstrators would understand activities and NCCAP certification, but alas that will be a long time from now. I have seen all sorts of listings for Activities jobs and some weren't pretty and some you just knew didn't get it AT ALL! So here's what we can all do, contact your state associations and have an Administrators and HR worshop throughout your state. Get NAB (National Administrators Board) pre-approval for their certification and sponsor a week tour. Get a couple of well prepapred and GREAT speakers to speak about Activities and how it impacts the facilities bottom line, what is actually required of the department and about NCCAP certification and how it actually meets the facilities needs. Charge them for the workshop, but give them a ton of goodies to take back to their facilities. That would make the impact and educate many! And make money for your state association. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mashonda 0 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Lynn, Your facility is probably willing to accept an individual that has taken the Activity Coordinator course that is usually offered at the local community college. That is almost the bare minimum. However, the other posts that talked about NAAP (National Association of Activity Professionals) and TRS/CTRS's are correct. I am a TRS/CTRS and there is a great deal of work involved. Requires a 4 year degree and an internship. If you still are unclear about everything, go talk to the HR person at your job and ask to see the specific job description that outlines the education requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn56 0 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 My state has no Activity Coordinator classes - anywhere! The only thing I am thinking is maybe they just want the Mepap 1 and a year of experience with a high school diploma or GED - because someone with the actual real certification couldn't afford to work there for those wages and no benefits. Even then the Mepap is over 600 bucks plus the transportation at long distance (not cheap when gas is 2 bucks a gallon). I have also been warned that many activity people end up doing nursing assistant duties and such. If your going to spend a ton of money on education - you have to expect to be paid enough to cover that and the continuing education as well. Other wise you should just call it volunteering (expensive volunteering). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel 4 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 Each state has their own regulations as to what is a qualified activity director, in my state of California all that is required to hold an Activity Director position is 36 hours of education, The NCCAP is wonderful for those who are interested in getting Nationally certified, If you move to a state that requires that you be certified through the NCCAP and you dont have it you may have a difficult time getting hired. Once again check with your state regulations. -Miguel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 This topic is so misunderstood in this field. I am a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and I teach the Activity Course for the State of Texas. My students and I were just discussing this issue today. In the State of Texas if you have taken an approved Basic or MEPAP I course you are considered a qualified Activity Director and can work in Nursing Homes. AL and IL do not require by the State of Texas to be licensed, but must facilites policies and procedures do. To become a Certified Activity Director in Texas or Nationally (with no previous college) you have to take both the Basic & Advanced or MEPAP I and II. At this point you will take the State Test or apply to NCCAP for certification. After passing the State test or being approved by NCCAP with a certification # and Certificate do you receive credinitials after your name. I have had crazy stories coming from my students about what other Activitiy Professional say about the Certification process. One Activity person told my student that there was no Texas Certification or State Test and she should not bother taking the courses. You who live in Houston know that to be false. I have had Activity people tell my students that they have taken MEPAP I and that was all they had to do to be certified and most of you know that is false. Maybe I or anyone should research this information for every state to get the final answer, and stop the madness. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gina 2 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Hi All, This whole topic is so silly to me. Each state has different regulations on what an " Activity Director" is.And when I started in this business over 20 years ago there was no NCCAP around and no national certification. I grew up in Calif. and all I needed is a basic 36 hour course(granted, I have since taken numerous courses on other subjects of interest for my field)But my point is, FOR ME, it was never, ever asked at any facility I applied for if I was nationally certified. I have worked for SNF,Assisted Living,and Alzheimer's Units.I pondered the question of if I should pay to be nationally certified and I decided it just was not important. With the experience that I have I could very easily get my certification to be a ADC but like I said before in Calif. it has never been an issue.I have since moved to Arizona and here is even more lax than Ca.,at my last job the girl before me had absolutly NO EXPERIENCE in any field (this was her first job and they made her AD,starting at $16.00 per hour!!) so it just goes to show that unless you are in a state that will only hire you if you are nationally certified, there is just no point in doing so, no one can make be believe that a person that is nationally certified knows any more about being an Activity Director than me with my experience. I am sure I will piss some people off with this post but I am just voicing my view on this totally silly subject. Gina Salazar AD (no C at the end!) ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 That just show how each state is different. In Houston it is a big deal most Administrators require some education in the field to even be considered. Wow - I can't believe that any person starting off in a job level even to AD getting $16 dollars in hour. I never made that much. I guess it reflects the cost of living in each state. The most I ever made in Texas as a TRS was $15 dollars and hour. I personally think Certification is a good thing. It requires people to learn about all issues regarding AD's in Health Care. It gives a person starting out a class to learn from and network, as well as confidence to start in a field new to them. It helps people who have been in the field learn new trends and may help a burn out AD get more motiviated to implement new ideas. Plus it gives the field of activities and professionals in the field some standards. The goal of certification is to educate and help people take the field more seriously. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.