How to Be an Activities Director
If you are someone who enjoys working with the elderly or special needs population, enhancing others' quality of life, supervising others and finding creative ways to accomplish business goals, becoming an activities director may be a good fit for you.
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Instructions
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Do Your Research
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Learn more about that the job requirements and the salary. Activities directors create socialization programs, life skills activities, mental and physical exercises programs, and other events designed to improve the quality of life for the people they support. Possible employers include nursing homes, the geriatric ward in hospitals, clinics, assisted living communities and mental health settings.
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Discover what level of education is required to perform this position. Educational requirements vary from state to state. Most mandate that you at least earn a bachelor's degree. Degrees to consider include psychology, sociology, and health and wellness. Some states require that the degree be very specialized, such as Therapeutic Recreation or a related field.
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Get certification. The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) is the only federally recognized certification program for providing therapeutic activities to elders in long-term care settings. For more information about certification, contact the NCCAP (see Resources below).
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Gain experience. Even if you're currently working on your college degree, you can still volunteer at a clinic, hospital or rehabilitation center. Start networking and making your career plans known. Ask others in the field what the best ways are to gain experience and grow in this field.
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Write an article for an activities professional publication. There is a need for more writing on these experiences. Share your educational and professional experiences in this field, and be open to mentoring others.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Payscale.com, NCCAP.com, morriscenter.com, campusaccess.com, princeton.edu
