Rehabilitation Counselor Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

Have you ever had a problem communicating with a co-worker, and felt helpless as it quickly escalated into a situation in which you could no longer work with each other, and other member of the office were made aware of the tension? Perhaps you took on a large load of classes at school and started to feel more stressed and anxious until you just didn’t want to get out of bed any more. Other people may have experienced stress because of a birth defect or injury that leaves them with decreased mobility or the inability to live on their own. These situations can be very difficult to sort out, and many times people must seek the services of a rehabilitation counselor to help them deal with these weaknesses and move past them. Rehabilitation counselors are responsible for evaluating a patient’s physical and emotional needs and developing a treatment program that will help them to be more self-sufficient.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$31,500
Salary Range
$22,800 - $48,000

Work Environment

In order to be closest to the patients and doctors that they depend on to do their job well, rehabilitation counselors are most often employed at hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, government agencies and counseling centers in the community or school. It is important that rehabilitation counselors be available to speak with their patients at all times in case of an emergency.

High School Preparation

Those individuals that think they might enjoy the responsibilities of rehabilitation therapist are encouraged to spend their high school career increasing their knowledge of biology, psychology and the arts. Other supporting course work includes sociology, computer skills, social studies, emergency medicine and speech.

Requirements

Following completion of their high school curriculum, individuals that are interested in pursuing the career of a rehabilitation therapist are required to obtain an undergraduate career in an appropriate major from an accredited college or university. The most common majors for this field include psychology, counseling, social work or sociology. After obtaining the bachelor’s degree, it is necessary for candidates to enroll in a specialized rehabilitation counseling program that is typically two to four years long and includes a period of field work as well as classroom instruction. The last step toward this career is completion of the national certification exam that is offered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

Career Outlook

It is becoming more obvious to medical professionals that the majority of people in this country suffer from some sort of life or work related mental, physical, or emotional illness or disability. Qualified rehabilitation therapists will be needed in increasing numbers over the next ten years to deal with this demand for care.

Professional Organizations

National Rehabilitation Counseling Association
PO Box 4480
Manassas, VA 22110-4719
Phone: (703) 361-2077
nrca-net.org