Recreational Therapy Internship (Arizona)

Program Description

Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) offers a 14-week Recreational Therapy Internship at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. This program provides comprehensive knowledge and skills that enable practitioners to provide therapeutic treatment services and activities.

The Recreational Therapy Internship takes place in a hospital-based environment, where you will learn and practice:

• Treatment that utilizes activity to promote an individual's present functional skills.
• Leisure education as a means to acquire skills and develop knowledge of new activities and adopt or return to past recreational activities.
• Skills in forming positive attitudes.
• Community reintegration skills, which assist in return to past leisure activities and social skills.
• Recreational activities that promote the health/wellness concept and independent leisure activities.

When you complete this internship, you will take a national certification exam to begin work as an entry-level therapeutic recreation specialist.

Accreditation

Mayo Foundation is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission.

• Higher Learning Commission
  • 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
    Chicago, IL 60602-2504
  • 1-800-621-7440 (toll-free)
  • 312-263-0456
  • Fax: 312-263-7462
  • www.ncacihe.org

Facilities

The education site for this residency is Mayo Clinic Hospital, part of Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. You will spend all your time on the rehabilitation unit, except when you are assisting patients with community-based educational opportunities and activities.

You will be exposed to a variety of adaptive activities, equipment, videos and resources, which will prepare you for treating adult and pediatric patients with medical diagnoses typically seen in the rehabilitative clinical setting: stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cancer, cardiac conditions and neurological impairments.

Graduation and Certification

Upon successful completion of the Recreational Therapy Internship, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Mayo School of Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

Recreational Therapy interns also graduate from their respective college or university upon successful completion of their internship. They are then responsible for scheduling and taking their certification tests through the Education Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification. You must successfully pass this national certification exam to begin work as an entry-level therapeutic recreation specialist.

Recreation therapists must complete a 480-hour internship, in addition to completing their degree and passing their certification exam.

Hours

For the majority of the internship, your learning schedule will include eight-hour days, five days per week. While the regular workweek is usually 40 hours, additional projects, patient activities and homework may be assigned.

Class Size

Each year, Mayo School of Health Sciences admits one or two students in the spring, summer and fall semesters to its Recreational Therapy Internship at Mayo Clinic - Phoenix Campus. This ensures you will receive close one-on-one instruction and a comprehensive educational experience.

• April 10, 2012
• ART526624