If you’ve ever thought about pursuing a career in rehabilitation counseling, you’re in the right place.
Rehabilitation counseling is a growing job market in the US right now and a vital position in the human services sector. If you’ve never thought about it…you should! It offers job security and does an important service for society.
Read on for more information on how to become a rehab counselor.
What is Rehabilitation Counseling?
Rehabilitation counselors support people with physical, intellectual, mental, or emotional disabilities to live full and independent lives. The counselors work with a wide variety of professionals in the social services sector, including physicians, psychologists, and social workers. Together, they help address and minimize barriers that impact individuals living with disabilities.
According to the CDC, one in four adults in the US lives with a disability. Rehab counselors offer direct support to many of these individuals to address the personal and psychological impacts of disabilities. They also often offer career counseling and assist in making plans for independent living.
What Are the Education Requirements to Become a Counselor?
You’re probably wondering how to become a rehabilitation counselor and more importantly, what the education requirements are.
There are some jobs available in rehabilitation counseling for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in rehabilitation and disability studies or other related human services fields. These roles are typically as a rehabilitation counselor aid. Some employers will promote or hire individuals with a bachelor’s degree provided they have several years of relevant experience.
That said, most rehab counseling jobs require either a graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling, masters in counseling or a related field. These master’s programs teach you strategies to understand and evaluate clients’ needs and help them develop a practical plan for independent living. Most master’s programs in rehabilitation studies include supervised clinical practice in the field. The clinical supervision typically takes place in the form of an internship. If the sound of six years of school sounds daunting to you, don’t fret. Some schools offer a dual degree program where you can complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in just five years!
Pro-tip when searching for a program: be sure to check out the school’s CORE accreditation! CORE is the Council on Rehabilitation Education. If a program isn’t CORE accredited, you’ll need a full year of work experience supervised by a certified rehab counselor before you can sit for a certification examination. More on that below!
Are there Certification Requirements to Practice Rehabilitation Counseling?
Certification is not required for rehabilitation counseling careers. You can even get by without one as a rehab counselor for many employers. That said, a lot of employers prefer candidates who have been certified by the CRCC or Council on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Some employers may even require it.
Applicants for certification are required to have completed a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. They must also have finished their clinical supervision period and, finally, pass an exam. To maintain your certification, you’ll need to meet continuing education requirements or re-take the exam. Certifications are good for five years.
Where do Rehabilitation Counselors Work?
Rehab counselors work in a variety of settings. The most popular placement is as a career counselor at a state-run rehabilitation program or other health care setting. Rehab counselors are also commonly needed at a variety of social service agencies. Some even work at public and private universities, where they typically serve as disability specialists.
Given this range of employment settings, rehabilitation counselors work with a variety of clients. Individuals in need of a counselor are often elderly folks who are facing new functional limitations due to injury, illness, or simply because of aging. Some are young and otherwise healthy individuals facing a temporary disability or health restriction. Individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages are also common clients of rehabilitation counselors.
How Much Does a Rehabilitation Counselor Make?
As of 2019, the median pay for a rehabilitation counselor is around $36,000 per year or approximately $17.30 per hour. But salaries can range between $23,000 and $64,000 depending on your level of training, experience, and location. Job growth in this industry is expected to increase by 10% between 2019 and 2029.
Why Go into Rehabilitation Counseling?
Rehabilitation counseling is a growing field with good job prospects. More importantly, however, rehabilitation counselors provide a vital service to individuals with disabilities in their communities.
Rehab counselors are good communicators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers. They must be patient, good listeners, and also able to form positive working relationships with clients and other professionals.
A career as a rehab counselor is ever-changing and never boring. For many people, it also offers the satisfaction of making a positive impact on someone else’s life. If those qualities sound like you and you’re looking for a rewarding career in a growing field, check out our listings in rehabilitation counseling today!
Online Rehabilitation Counseling Schools
Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Maine – BS in Rehabilitation Services:
This is a bachelor completion program which requires previous college credit to be eligible for enrollment.
University of North Dakota – BS in Rehabilitation and Human Services
Faulkner University – BS in Health and Rehabilitation Psychology
Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling
The University of Alabama – MA in Rehabilitation Counseling
University of North Texas – MS in Rehabilitation Counseling
George Washington University – MA in Rehabilitation Counseling