Rehabilitation Counselor

Those with personal, social or vocational disabilities may rely on a rehabilitation counselor. The rehabilitation counselor assists disabled people to deal with the effects of their disability. They provide personal and vocational counseling and assist the person to integrate himself or herself into, or back into, society.

Rehabilitation counselors also work with the disabled people’s families, and collaborate with physicians, psychologists, and occupational therapists to determine the potential capability of the disabled person, and create a program that may include job skills training.

Education and Credentials Required
Rehabilitation counselors are usually required to be licensed or certified. Some government agencies and companies require the prospective employee to have a masters’ degree. In some states counselors need to have a masters’ degree to get certified, in others only a bachelors. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits approximately 176 educational institutions in the United States.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for rehabilitation counselors are expected to rise faster than average, because the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function is expected to rise. Additionally, the increasing numbers of elderly will fuel demand. Lastly, medical technology has ensured that many people who wouldn’t have survived an injury in previous times are surviving today.

Salary Range
The median salary, as of 2002, for rehabilitation counselors was $29,940, with the highest ten percent earning more than $44,940 and the lowest earners bringing home less than $16,840. Experience, location, skill, reputation, hours worked and other factors impact income.