Activity Director Certification in Texas

Activity directors provide safe, fun activities for seniors or disabled individuals in nursing homes, rehabilitative facilities, assisted-living quarters, and long-term care facilities. Certification requirements differ from state to state; Texas requirements are less stringent than those in some states.

Career Overview

• Activity directors keep the individuals in their care occupied in a creative or active manner. This could involve art projects, music performances, theater productions, games, outings or field trips.

Texas Educational Requirements

• Most states require a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or related field, but Texas offers programs for basic certification to individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent, two activity director courses, and completion of a certification exam. After certification, the activity director must take six semester hours on therapeutic recreation theory and practice courses.

Job Outlook

• With an aging population, emphasis on a better quality of life for the older generation and improving care for the disabled, the job outlook for this position is promising. Courses can be taken at local community colleges or online. In late 2009, the median salary for the position was estimated at almost $35,000 annually.