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Table of Contents

Snapshot

Snapshot

Career Cluster: Human Services

Interests: Counseling, mental health, physical rehabilitation, disability management, sociology, psychology

Earnings (Yearly Average): $34,230

Employment & Outlook: Faster Than Average Growth Expected


Profile

Profile

Working Conditions: Work Indoors

Physical Strength: Light Work

Education Needs: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree

Licensure/Certification: Required

Physical Abilities Not Required: No Heavy Labor

Opportunities For Experience: Military Service, Volunteer Work, Part-Time Work

Holland Interest Score*: SEC

[1] * See Appendix A


Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Arranging tests and evaluations for rehabilitation purposes

  • Conducting interviews with clients and their families

  • Evaluating school and medical reports

  • Working with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and employers


Relevant Skills and Abilities

Relevant Skills and Abilities

Interpersonal/Social Skills

  • Being able to work independently

  • Being patient

  • Having good judgment

  • Motivating others

  • Providing support to others

Organization & Management Skills

  • Demonstrating leadership

  • Making decisions

  • Managing time

  • Meeting goals and deadlines

Research & Planning Skills

  • Predicting


Famous First

Famous First

The first rehabilitation counselors in the 1940s (and earlier) came from a variety of disciplines, including nursing, social work, and educational counseling. The field began to grow in the wake of World War II, as disabled veterans returned home. By the mid-1950s rehabilitation counseling was an established profession.

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Careers in Human Services

Rehabilitation Counselor

by Simone Isadora Flynn

Overview

Sphere of Work

Rehabilitation counselors (also called case managers, rehabilitation specialists, and human services counselors) provide vocational, medical, housing, employment, and personal support services to individuals and groups with disabilities. In general, they work to help their clients become more independent, employable, and productive. Rehabilitation counselors support clients living with disabilities present since birth or impairments resulting from illness, disease, addiction, accident, or injury. For instance, individuals experiencing employment, housing, or social complications and challenges related to HIV/AIDS, schizophrenia, or intellectual disability are generally eligible for rehabilitation counseling under the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The range of counseling services provided by rehabilitation counselors includes coordinating counseling activities at residential facilities, overseeing job training and vocational counseling programs, and creating rehabilitation plans for clients.

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Work Environment

Rehabilitation counselors spend their workdays seeing clients in a wide variety of settings, including public or private rehabilitation facilities, mental health facilities, schools and universities, insurance companies, job training and placement programs, prisons and hospitals, and private counseling practices. Rehabilitation counselors may have an office or may travel to see clients. Given the diverse demands of rehabilitative counseling, rehabilitation counselors may need to work days, evenings, weekends, and on-call hours to meet client or caseload needs.

Occupation Interest

Individuals drawn to the rehabilitation counseling profession tend to be intelligent and socially conscious and able to quickly assess situations, find resources, demonstrate caring, and solve problems. Successful rehabilitation counselors display traits such as time management, knowledge of human behavior, initiative, and concern for individuals and society. Rehabilitation counselors should find satisfaction in spending time with a wide range of people, including those considered at-risk and those from diverse cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.

A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities

A rehabilitation counselor's daily duties and responsibilities are determined by the individual's area of job specialization and work environment. Rehabilitation counseling specialties include physical rehabilitation, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, disability management, corrections, vocational assessment, forensic rehabilitation, pediatric rehabilitation, and geriatric rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation counselors work closely with clients to assess their situations and provide assistance. The rehabilitation counselor's first task is assessment. The rehabilitation counselor may complete client intake interviews for residential rehabilitation or medical facilities. He or she may also undertake client evaluations to assess physical, mental, academic, and vocational aptitude and readiness. The rehabilitation counselor then works with clients to develop counseling goals and objectives, oversees client job search efforts, and assists clients with employment, welfare, childcare, and food stamp applications. Depending on client needs, a rehabilitation counselor may also help clients obtain assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, that enable independence and employment, organize on-site job training for clients, help clients arrange transportation and housing, or lead workshops for clients in residential facilities.

Rehabilitation counselors act as liaisons for their clients. They participate in client team meetings and provide client updates to supervisors and client families. Rehabilitation counselors also develop connections and familiarity with community social service agencies, and refer clients to community services or agencies as needed.

All rehabilitation counselors ensure that rehabilitation programs meet the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition, all rehabilitation counselors are responsible for completing client records and required documentation, such as referral forms and insurance forms, on a daily basis.

Work Environment

Physical Environment

The immediate physical environment of rehabilitation counselors vary based on their caseload and specialization. Rehabilitation counselors spend their workdays seeing clients in a wide variety of settings, including public or private rehabilitation facilities, mental health facilities, schools and universities, insurance companies, job training and placement programs, prisons and hospitals, and private counseling practices.

Human Environment

Rehabilitation counselors interact with many people. They should be comfortable meeting with colleagues, staff, client families, incarcerated people, and people living with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities.

Technological Environment

Rehabilitation counselors use computers and a range of telecommunication tools to perform their job. They must be comfortable using computers to access client records. Rehabilitation counselors should also be comfortable traveling for work, as they may be required to frequently visit client homes and facilities.

Education, Training, and Advancement

High School/Secondary

High school students interested in pursuing a career as a rehabilitation counselor should prepare themselves by developing good study habits. Coursework in foreign languages, public safety, sociology, psychology, and education can provide a strong foundation for college-level work in the rehabilitation counseling field. Due to the diversity of rehabilitation counseling specialties, high school students interested in this career path may benefit from seeking internships or part-time work that expose the students to diverse groups of people and social needs.

Suggested High School Subjects

  • Applied Communication

  • College Preparatory

  • English

  • Humanities

  • Literature

  • Psychology

  • Social Studies

  • Sociology

College/Postsecondary

Postsecondary students interested in becoming rehabilitation counselors should work towards an undergraduate degree in counseling or a related field, such as psychology or social work. Coursework in education, public safety, and foreign languages may also prove useful in their future work. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and potential advantage in their future job searches by securing internships or part-time employment in social service agencies or with individuals or groups living with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.

Interested college students should also research and apply to master's degree programs for rehabilitation counseling. Master's degree programs in rehabilitative counseling typically include such courses as counseling theory, assessment, human development, ethics, evaluation, and case management; a practicum or internship is mandatory for degree completion.

Related College Majors

  • Counselor Education/Student Counseling & Guidance Services

  • Psychology, General

  • Sociology

Adult Job Seekers

Adults seeking employment as rehabilitation counselors should have obtained a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or a similar field, such as social work, psychology, or sociology, and earned national certification. Adult job seekers should educate themselves about the educational and professional license requirements of their home states and the organizations where they seek employment.

Adult job seekers may benefit from joining professional associations to help with networking and job searching. Professional rehabilitation counseling associations, such as the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), generally offer career workshops and maintain lists and forums of available jobs.

Professional Certification and Licensure

Professional certification and licensure is required of all practicing rehabilitation counselors. Specific licensure requirements—including additional coursework, continuing professional education, and supervision—vary by state.

The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation is often an employment requirement. The CRC designation is awarded through the CRCC. Candidates must have a master's of rehabilitation counseling or related field, demonstrate work experience, and complete a written national examination. Certified rehabilitation counselors are eligible to apply for state mental health counselor licenses. Continuing education is required for certification renewal.

Additional Requirements

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Individuals who find satisfaction, success, and job security as rehabilitation counselors will be knowledgeable about the profession's requirements, responsibilities, and opportunities. Successful rehabilitation counselors engage in ongoing professional development. Rehabilitation counselors must have high levels of integrity and ethics as they interact with at-risk people and groups and have access to personal information. Membership in professional counseling associations is encouraged among all rehabilitation counselors as a means of building status in a professional community and networking.

Earnings and Advancement

Rehabilitation counselors may advance with additional education. Those persons with a master's degree will have higher earnings. Median annual earnings of rehabilitation counselors were $34,230 in 2013. The lowest ten percent earned less than $21,170, and the highest ten percent earned more than $60,020.

Rehabilitation counselors may receive paid vacations, holidays, and sick days; life and health insurance; and retirement benefits. These are usually paid by the employer.

Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Level in this Occupation

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Hourly mean wage New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ 4,940 0.94 $19.25 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA 3,140 0.79 $16.43 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA 2,620 1.81 $22.15 Philadelphia, PA 2,440 1.33 $19.24 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA 2,190 1.25 $20.35 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,810 1.01 $20.16 Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL 1,760 0.48 $18.49 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 1,600 1.33 $15.41 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,590 0.67 $20.62 Tacoma, WA 1,370 5.24 $16.93

[1] (1) Does not include self-employed. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment and Outlook

Rehabilitation counselors held about 118,000 jobs nationally in 2012. Employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2022, which means employment is projected to increase 20 percent or more. The number of people who need rehabilitation services will rise as advances in medical technology allow more people to survive injury or illness and live independently again.

Employment Trend, Projected 2010–20

Rehabilitation Counselors: 20%

Community and Social Service Occupations: 17%

Total, All Occupations: 11%

Note: “All Occupations” includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections Program

Related Occupations

  • Employment Specialist

  • Marriage Counselor

  • Medical Social Worker

  • Occupational Therapist

  • Psychologist

  • School Counselor

  • Social Worker

  • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

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Selected Schools

Many colleges and universities have bachelor's degree programs in counseling and therapy, often with a specialization in rehabilitation counseling. The student may also gain an initial grounding in the field at a technical or community college. Consult with your school guidance counselor or research post-secondary programs in your area. Below are listed some of the more prominent schools in this field.

George Washington University

2121 I Street NW

Washington, DC 20052

202.994.1000

www.gwu.edu

Illinois Institute of Technology

3300 South Federal Street

Chicago, IL 60616

312.567.3000

web.iit.edu

Michigan State University

220 Trowbridge Roads

East Lansing, MI 48824

517.355.1855

www.msu.edu

Penn State University

University Park

State College, PA 16801

814.865.4700

www.psu.edu

San Diego State University

5500 Campanile Drive

San Diego, CA 92182

619.594.5200

www.sdsu.edu

Southern Illinois University

1263 Lincoln Drive

Carbondale, IL 62901

618.453.2121

siu.edu

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ 85721

520.621.2211

www.arizona.edu

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 52242

319.335.3500

www.uiowa.edu

University of Wisconsin

Madison, WI 53706

608.263.2400

www.wisc.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University

821 West Franklin Street

Richmond, VA 23284

804.828.0100

www.vcu.edu

More Information

American Counseling Association

5999 Stevenson Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22304

800.347.6647

www.counseling.org

American Rehabilitation Counseling Association

www.arcaweb.org

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 440

Alexandria, VA 22311

703.671.4500

www.aerbvi.org

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

1699 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 300

Schaumburg, IL 60173

847.944.1325

www.crccertification.com

National Organization for Human Services

1600 Sarno Road, Suite 16

Melbourne, FL 32935

www.nationalhumanservices.org

National Rehabilitation Association

PO Box 150235

Alexandria, VA 22315

703.836.0850

www.nationalrehab.org

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Rehabilitation Counselor." Careers in Human Services, edited by Michael Shally-Jensen, Salem Press, 2015. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CIHS_0021.
APA 7th
Flynn, S. I. (2015). Rehabilitation Counselor. In M. Shally-Jensen (Ed.), Careers in Human Services. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Rehabilitation Counselor." Edited by Michael Shally-Jensen. Careers in Human Services. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2015. Accessed July 05, 2025. online.salempress.com.