{"id":20878,"date":"2016-02-04T19:59:39","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T19:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy?page_id=20878"},"modified":"2026-03-14T16:15:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T21:15:48","slug":"nctrc-practice-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nctrc-practice-test\/","title":{"rendered":"NCTRC<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Practice Exam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification<sup>&reg;<\/sup> (NCTRC<sup>&reg;<\/sup>) exam is designed to assess the entry-level knowledge and skills of those wishing to provide recreational therapy services. If you pass the exam, you will be awarded the CTRS certification.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free NCTRC practice exam!<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonlinks\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/nctrc\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Guide Button', 'Guide Click', 'NCTRC Guide Click']);\">NCTRC Study Guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nctrc\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Flashcard Button', 'Flashcard Button Click', 'NCTRC Flashcard Click']);\">NCTRC Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Exam_Eligibility\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Exam Eligibility<\/h2>\n<p>To be eligible for the exam, you must meet all of the requirements that fall under one of the following equivalency paths:<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Academic_Path\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Academic Path<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You must have a bachelor&#8217;s degree or higher from an accredited university or college, a major in recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation or a major in therapeutic recreation. An official transcript is required.<\/li>\n<li>You must meet the requirements for professional and supportive coursework.<\/li>\n<li>You must complete an internship supervised by a CTRS, with a minimum of 14 weeks\/560 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may apply for the exam prior to degree completion with the following requirements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enrolled in a degree program for Recreational Therapy (meeting NCTRC standards)<\/li>\n<li>Completed a minimum of 90 credit hours<\/li>\n<li>Completed requirements for professional and supportive coursework<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You must complete internship requirements prior to receiving the CTRS certification.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Equivalency_Path\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Equivalency Path<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You must have a Bachelor&#8217;s degree or higher<\/li>\n<li>You must meet the professional and supportive coursework requirements<\/li>\n<li>You must complete at least 1 year of full-time paid work experience in recreational therapy, supervised by a CTRS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"NCTRC_Certification_Exam_Outline\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>NCTRC Certification Exam Outline<\/h2>\n<p>The NCTRC exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions, 20 of which are unscored, and you will be given a 3-hour time limit.<\/p>\n<p>The exam is split into six content areas, and each area is split into two objectives:<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"1_Professionalism_(12%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>1. Professionalism (12%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this area assess your ability to develop professional relationships and maintain professional competency.<\/p>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-top: -1em;\">Develop professional relationships<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: 0.5em;\">\n<li>Communicate with interdisciplinary teams<\/li>\n<li>Advocate for clients&#8217; rights<\/li>\n<li>Educate internal and external stakeholders about the scope of practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Maintain professional competency<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: -0.5em;\">\n<li>Maintain professional qualifications<\/li>\n<li>Comply with professional standards of practice and code of ethics<\/li>\n<li>Understand trends in RT\/TR practice<\/li>\n<li>Participate in committees<\/li>\n<li>Apply concepts of cultural competence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<h3><span id=\"2_Assessment_(19%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>2. Assessment (19%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this area assess your ability to conduct assessments and apply assessment data to plan care.<\/p>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-top: -1em;\">Conduct the assessment process<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: 0.5em;\">\n<li>Establish a therapeutic relationship with clients<\/li>\n<li>Gather primary and secondary data<\/li>\n<li>Apply knowledge of developmental and diagnostic characteristics<\/li>\n<li>Determine strengths and limitations using findings from gathered data<\/li>\n<li>Determine assessment tools to establish outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Apply assessment data to plan care<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: -0.5em;\">\n<li>Create goals and objectives<\/li>\n<li>Prioritize client strengths and needs<\/li>\n<li>Communicate data to client and service providers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<h3><span id=\"3_Planning_(18%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>3. Planning (18%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this area assess your ability to develop individualized care plans and program services.<\/p>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-top: -1em;\">Develop individualized plan of care<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: 0.5em;\">\n<li>Utilize practice theories<\/li>\n<li>Utilize RT\/TR service delivery models<\/li>\n<li>Align goals and objectives that support delivery of service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Design program services<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: -0.5em;\">\n<li>Engage in logistical program planning<\/li>\n<li>Use activity\/task analysis to provide quality services<\/li>\n<li>Design programs based on the interests, needs, and abilities of the client<\/li>\n<li>Select intervention approaches, techniques, and modalities<\/li>\n<li>Identify formative evaluation techniques to determine program effectiveness<\/li>\n<li>Determine activity modifications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<h3><span id=\"4_Implementation_(25%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>4. Implementation (25%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this area assess your ability to deliver program services while adhering to risk management protocols.<\/p>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-top: -1em;\">Deliver program services<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: 0.5em;\">\n<li>Determine the steps needed to implement services<\/li>\n<li>Explain the purpose of the program<\/li>\n<li>Establish a facilitation structure and leadership approach<\/li>\n<li>Implement the program<\/li>\n<li>Monitor the effectiveness of the program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Adhere to risk management protocols<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: -0.5em;\">\n<li>Utilize safety protocol components<\/li>\n<li>Provide a safe environment by identifying relevant precautions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<h3><span id=\"5_Evaluation_and_Documentation_(16%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>5. Evaluation and Documentation (16%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this area assess your ability to document client progress and any program and client incidents.<\/p>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-top: -1em;\">Document client progress<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: 0.5em;\">\n<li>Complete progress notes<\/li>\n<li>Communicate with service providers on client progress<\/li>\n<li>Develop transition plans<\/li>\n<li>Conduct an evaluation of program effectiveness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Document program and client incident<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: -0.5em;\">\n<li>Identify policies and procedures for reporting specific incidents<\/li>\n<li>Document specific incident details<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<h3><span id=\"6_Administration_(10%25)\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>6. Administration (10%)<\/h3>\n<p>The questions in this area assess your ability to document client progress and any program and client incidents.<\/p>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-top: -1em;\">Maintain department documentation<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: 0.5em;\">\n<li>Adhere to agency policies regarding documentation<\/li>\n<li>Follow the service plan of operation<\/li>\n<li>Identify RT\/TR service regulations<\/li>\n<li>Adhere to agency fiscal management<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"togglelist\">\n<summary style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Assign and monitor personnel<\/summary>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle; margin-top: -0.5em;\">\n<li>Assist with supervision and education of volunteers, students, and staff<\/li>\n<li>Contribute to staff performance appraisals<\/li>\n<li>Maintain an internship program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NCTRC-Exam-Outline-01.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-171200\" role=\"img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NCTRC-Outline-01.svg\" alt=\"exam outline for the NCTRC exam, which contains 120 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 3 hours\" width=\"510.6\" height=\"500.25\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's NCTRC Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/nctrc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/nctrc\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"184\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/nctrc-32166.jpg\" alt=\" Study Guide\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Registration\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span> Registration<\/h2>\n<p>After completing the requirements for the academic path, you can apply for the exam on the NCTRC website. If the application is approved, you can schedule their test appointment at a PSI test site. The exam is offered 6 times a year, with a two-week window to schedule and take the test.<\/p>\n<p>The exam registration fee is $350.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Test_Day\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Test Day<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Inperson_Testing\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>In-person Testing<\/h3>\n<p>To ensure a quick check-in process, you should arrive at your testing location about 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. Once you arrive, a Test Center Administrator (TCA) will ask you to present two forms of valid identification, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. A member of the Prometric staff will take your picture, do a metal detector scan on you, and capture a digital image of your fingerprint before you enter the testing room.<\/p>\n<p>You will then be asked to put any personal items in a secure locker outside the testing area. The only things you are permitted to bring to the check-in station are your ID papers, your locker key, and a pair of foam earplugs in an unopened container.<\/p>\n<p>When it is time for the exam to begin, you will be led to your testing area and given a brief tutorial on the testing system before you start the exam.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Live_Remote_Proctoring\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Live Remote Proctoring<\/h3>\n<p>Before you sign on to check in for your exam, clear your workspace of everything but your ID, two pieces of blank paper, a writing utensil, a keyboard, and a mouse. There should be nothing on or around your workspace, including cell phones, recording devices, water bottles, drinks, or food.<\/p>\n<p>When you sign on for your exam, you will be asked to present your government-issued ID to the proctor, and then the front and back of your scratch paper and writing utensil. The proctor will ask for you to move the camera around your workspace, and you may be asked to remove items from your desk, adjust lighting, or adjust your microphone and webcam. Once the proctor is satisfied with your testing space, your exam begins.<\/p>\n<p>During your exam, you must keep the microphone and webcam on and remain in view of the webcam at all times.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"How_the_Exam_is_Scored\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How the Exam is Scored<\/h2>\n<p>The NCTRC exam is scored using a scaled scoring system. This system takes the number of questions you answered correctly and converts it to a numerical score on a scale of 100-500. The passing scaled score for this exam is 293.<\/p>\n<p>You will receive an immediate pass\/fail notification when you finish the exam.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's NCTRC Flashcards<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get complex  subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button blue-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nctrc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Flashcards<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nctrc\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/nctrcflash.jpg\" alt=\" Flashcards\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"FAQs\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>FAQs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How many questions are on the NCTRC exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There are 120 multiple-choice questions on the exam, 20 of which are not scored.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How long is the NCTRC exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The time limit for the exam is 3 hours.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the passing score for the NCTRC exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>To pass the exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 293.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How much does the NCTRC exam cost?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The exam registration fee is $350.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"author\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Headshot of Mometrix associate Peter Rench.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Peter-Rench-scaled.webp\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">By <span itemprop=\"name\">Peter Rench<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&amp;M University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"editor\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Aaron Lanni profile pic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image_2024-12-11_124906662.png\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">Edited by <span itemprop=\"name\">Aaron Lanni<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Aaron is the content manager and lead editor for Mometrix Academy. He regularly produces, updates, proofreads, and edits content to ensure it meets Mometrix\u2019s quality and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n<\/div><p class=\"alignright author-desc author-link\"><a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/editorial-guidelines\/\">Learn more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> \u2192<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/\">Mometrix Academy &#8211; Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">NCTRC and National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification are registered trademarks of National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc., which is not affiliated with Mometrix Test Preparation and does not endorse this page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification&reg; (NCTRC&reg;) exam is designed to assess the entry-level knowledge and skills of those wishing to provide recreational therapy services. If you pass the exam, you will be awarded the CTRS certification. Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free NCTRC practice exam! Exam Eligibility To be eligible for &#8230; <a title=\"NCTRC&reg; Practice Exam\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nctrc-practice-test\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about NCTRC&reg; Practice Exam\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":272326,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-20878","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-medical-professional","7":"page_type-exam-overview","8":"page_domain-nctrc"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20878"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":284935,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20878\/revisions\/284935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}