The job market can be tough, and a college degree can get your foot in the door for recreation management, but adding professional certifications can make you really stand out. At BYU-Idaho, recreation management students have access to a variety of certifications that prepare them for careers in parks, recreation, fitness, and therapeutic recreation.
This article will guide you through the certifications you can earn during and after your degree, and why they matter for your career.
What Certifications Can I Earn while in School?
Currently, BYU-Idaho offers seven different certifications related to recreation management for students to earn while they’re still in school. Earning the certification is all dependent on passing the right exams, but your instructors and courses will prepare you to take your tests with confidence.
- Lifeguarding: This is a 3-credit course that walks students through the American Red Cross certifications for pool lifeguards, CPR for the professional rescuer, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), First Aid, and oxygen administration.
- Pool Operator: If you want to work somewhere in aquatics, then you should consider this certification. It’s part of the aquatics management course, so you’ll learn everything you need to know about pool operations before the certification exam.
- Lifeguard Instructor: After becoming a certified lifeguard, this 2-credit course allows you to get certified to teach new lifeguards. You’ll take the American Red Cross lifeguard and instructor exams to earn this certification.
- Water Safety Instructor: If you want to teach kids or adults how to stay safe in the water, this is the certification you should earn. It’s a 2-credit class that walks you through the American Red Cross certification requirements and prepares you for the end-of-course exam.
- Personal Training: To pass the personal training certification exams, you’ll need to take this cluster of courses to prepare. It’s a 14-credit curriculum, and it teaches you how to design and lead group workouts, assess risk factors, how to design nutrition plans, and more.
- Wilderness First Aid: This 3-credit course teaches you how to respond to medical emergencies in wilderness and remote settings. It’s a hands-on and practical course, so you can feel confident in your abilities.
Certifications You Can Earn after School
In the world of recreation management, one of the best professional certifications you can earn is the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential. It’s organized by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), who also offer scholarships and research grants to students in recreation programs.
To earn the CTRS credential, you’ll first have to:
- Complete certain recreation courses as outlined by the NCTRC
- Complete your bachelor’s degree
- Work in 1 Academic Internship or 2 Paid Professional Experiences related to recreation
- Register for and take the NCTRC Certification Exam
Why Get Certified?
Earning certifications while you’re still in school or even right after graduation can give you a serious head start in the job market. Most employers want their candidates to have more than a degree; they value credentials that show you have the hands-on, practical experience and knowledge that really matter in the day-to-day operations in recreation management.
With certifications under your belt, you’ll show employers that you:
- Have real, hands-on skills, not just classroom knowledge
- Meet industry standards for safety, leadership, and professionalism
- Are job-ready from day one, with trusted training
- Can handle responsibility, especially in areas like safety, instruction, and supervision
- Are committed to your career and willing to do more than the bare minimum
- Can adapt to different roles, from outdoor leadership to fitness
Conclusion
While you might think that a degree is enough to make you stand out, certifications can make you shine. As a recreation management student at BYU-Idaho, you have a wide range of certifications available to you. You can choose to focus on aquatics, or get certified in personal training, or work on your first aid readiness, or prepare to get nationally certified in therapeutic recreation. Any one of these certifications can strengthen your resume, making you job-market ready.
At BYU-Idaho, you can earn more than just a degree. Start exploring which certifications align with your career goals today and start building your future.
Citations
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Lifeguarding
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Aquatics Management
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Lifeguard Instructor
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Water Safety Instructor
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Personal Training
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Wilderness First Aid
NCTRC Financial Assistance Programs