California Business and Professions Code 17505.2 – (a) It is unlawful for a person to represent himself or herself …
(a) It is unlawful for a person to represent himself or herself as a recreation therapist, to represent the services he or she performs as recreation therapy, or to use terms set forth in subdivision (c) in connection with his or her services, name, or place of business, unless he or she meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in recreation therapy or in recreation and leisure studies with a specialization in recreation therapy. Alternatively, a person who does not have one of the preceding degrees may qualify if he or she has a baccalaureate degree in a specialization acceptable for certification or eligible for certification by any accrediting body specified in paragraph (2).
Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 17505.2
- board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
- person: includes any individual, partnership, firm, association, or corporation. See California Business and Professions Code 17506
- Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15
(2) Current certification or eligibility for certification as a recreation therapist by the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification or by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc.
(b) No person shall represent himself or herself as a recreation therapist assistant, or represent the services he or she performs as being in any way related to recreation therapy, unless he or she at a minimum has current certification, or has eligibility for certification, by the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification or by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc., as a recreation therapist assistant.
(c) A person who does not meet the requirements of subdivision (a) or (b) may not use any of the following words or abbreviations in connection with his or her services, name, or place of business:
(1) Recreation therapist registered.
(2) Recreation therapist certified.
(3) Certified therapeutic recreation specialist.
(4) Recreation therapist.
(5) Recreation therapist assistant registered.
(6) Certified therapeutic recreation assistant.
(7) RTR.
(8) RTC.
(9) CTRS.
(10) RT.
(11) RTAR.
(12) CTRA.
(d) For purposes of subdivision (c), the abbreviation RT shall not be construed to include rehabilitation therapist or respiratory therapist.
(e) Any person injured by a violation of this section may bring a civil action and may recover one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for the first violation and two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each subsequent violation. This is the sole remedy for a violation of this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 485, Sec. 26. Effective January 1, 1999.)