- Provide individual and group counseling to help clients adjust to their disability
- Evaluate clients’ abilities, interests, experiences, skills, health, and education
- Develop a treatment plan for clients, in consultation with other professionals, such as doctors, therapists, and psychologists
- Arrange for clients to obtain services, such as medical care or career training
- Help employers understand the needs and abilities of people with disabilities, as well as laws and resources that affect people with disabilities
- Help clients develop their strengths and adjust to their limitations
- Locate resources, such as wheelchairs or computer programs, that help clients live and work more independently
- Maintain client records and monitor clients’ progress, adjusting the rehabilitation or treatment plan as necessary
- Advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to live in a community and work in the job of their choice
- A Bachelor’s degree earned at and accredited college or university; there is no required major
- A Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling
Licensed Rehabilitation Counselors must:
- Complete graduate and post graduate internship experience for certification/license requirements
- Pass any required rehabilitation counseling exams for licensure and certification
- Apply for and earn additional counseling certifications
Note* Each state has unique requirements.
The median annual wage for rehabilitation counselors was $34,860 in May 2017. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,780.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2019). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm
Online Counseling Programs. (2019). How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor. Retrieved from https://onlinecounselingprograms.com/become-a-counselor/counseling-careers/rehabilitation-counselor/
