Recreation Therapist, CF- San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQ) (Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility)

California Correctional Health Care Services · Del Norte County

Salary: $9,159 – $9,903 per month

Job description and requirements

Job Description and Duties This is a limited term position which may be extended or become permanent. This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates: 11/9/26, 11/23/26, 12/7/26, 12/21/26, 1/4/27, 1/18/27, 2/1/27, 2/15/27. Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period. Please see the below link to the Recreation Therapist specs: Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility (9286) - CalHR This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM rate for this classification is $9159. • Please note: Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $5,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria. • IMPORTANT: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire, and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee’s name, classification, PERNR, and work location. The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre-employment process. Under the overall administrative authority of the Program Assistant, with clinical oversight from the Senior Psychiatrist, Supervisor (Clinical Director), the Recreation Therapist (RT), CF develops and conducts therapeutic recreation and leisure activities; monitors supplies and submits requests for supply orders; supervises patients; and protects and maintain the safety of persons and property. The Recreation Therapist maintains safety and security of work areas by inspecting the premises and accounting for tools and materials. Minimum Qualifications Education: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in recreation or recreation therapy. The major must have included supervised field work. (Registration as a senior will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent and completion of the required field work before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Please note: A Training and Development (T&D) assignment will not be considered at this time. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission. All applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQ's) of the classification, per SPB Rule 250, with the exception of Training & Development (T&D) Assignments. Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you should include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board. If using academic education above the twelfth grade to meet minimum qualifications, include a copy of your degree and/or Informal (Unofficial) School Transcripts. Applicants who completed their education outside of the US (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at NACES | National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Candidates new to CDCR/CCHCS are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting, as well as a Tuberculosis test/evaluation prior to appointment, followed by department annual Tuberculosis testing/evaluation thereafter. When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred. CDCR/CCHCS utilizes E-Verify to confirm candidate’s identity and employment authorization. For more information about E-Verify, you may go to www.e-verify.gov. This advertisement may be used for other vacancies that occur during the life of this recruitment. Employment History on the STD. 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. To prepare for the State Application process, please visit Work4CA: State Application Checklist. Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: Include a copy of your certification from California Board of Recreation and Park Certification(CBRPC) or by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc.(NCTRC) or letter stating you are eligible for certification from the CBRPC or the NCTRC. Per Business and Professions Code Section 17505.2 (a)(1) and (a)(2): • 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: • 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). • 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.
Show full description and requirements

Job Description and Duties

This is a limited term position which may be extended or become permanent.

This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates: 11/9/26, 11/23/26, 12/7/26, 12/21/26, 1/4/27, 1/18/27, 2/1/27, 2/15/27.

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period.

Please see the below link to the Recreation Therapist specs:
Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility (9286) - CalHR

This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM rate for this classification is $9159.

  • Please note: Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $5,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria.
  • IMPORTANT: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire, and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee’s name, classification, PERNR, and work location. The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre-employment process.

Under the overall administrative authority of the Program Assistant, with clinical oversight from the Senior Psychiatrist, Supervisor (Clinical Director), the Recreation Therapist (RT), CF develops and conducts therapeutic recreation and leisure activities; monitors supplies and submits requests for supply orders; supervises patients; and protects and maintain the safety of persons and property. The Recreation Therapist maintains safety and security of work areas by inspecting the premises and accounting for tools and materials.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in recreation or recreation therapy. The major must have included supervised field work. (Registration as a senior will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent and completion of the required field work before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Please note:
A Training and Development (T&D) assignment will not be considered at this time.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Special Requirements

Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.

All applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQ's) of the classification, per SPB Rule 250, with the exception of Training & Development (T&D) Assignments.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you should include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.

If using academic education above the twelfth grade to meet minimum qualifications, include a copy of your degree and/or Informal (Unofficial) School Transcripts.

Applicants who completed their education outside of the US (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at NACES | National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Candidates new to CDCR/CCHCS are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting, as well as a Tuberculosis test/evaluation prior to appointment, followed by department annual Tuberculosis testing/evaluation thereafter.

When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred.

CDCR/CCHCS utilizes E-Verify to confirm candidate’s identity and employment authorization. For more information about E-Verify, you may go to www.e-verify.gov.

This advertisement may be used for other vacancies that occur during the life of this recruitment.

Employment History on the STD. 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. To prepare for the State Application process, please visit Work4CA: State Application Checklist.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Include a copy of your certification from California Board of Recreation and Park Certification(CBRPC) or by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc.(NCTRC) or letter stating you are eligible for certification from the CBRPC or the NCTRC.

Per Business and Professions Code Section 17505.2 (a)(1) and (a)(2):

  • 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:

  • 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).

  • 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.

About this opportunity

Salary context

The annualized midpoint for this posting is $114,372. That matches the $114,372 median among 10 current California public jobs with the same normalized title.

More jobs at this employer

California Correctional Health Care Services currently has 232 other open positions in this database.

Regional hiring context

There are 23 current state openings in Del Norte County, including this position.

Application timeline

This is a continuous filing that has been listed for 12 days since CA Public Jobs first observed it.

Posting history

This posting appears on CalCareers. CA Public Jobs first observed it on October 23, 2026. It was last verified open on November 4, 2026.

View the official posting