Rehabilitation Counseling Degrees and Careers
(found programs from 132 schools)

Online Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling

A number of brick-and-mortar colleges and universities have put their master's in rehabilitation counseling programs online in recent years. Because they tend to have the same faculty and program structures as their offline counterparts, these online programs are beneficial for people who have always wanted to study with the faculty of a certain university yet do not live close enough to do so.

In general, online master's in rehabilitation counseling programs tend to rely on video lectures and online class discussions for coursework. Unlike other online psychology degrees, online master's in rehabilitation counseling degrees usually do not require students to spend a short time on campus to receive their diplomas. Students can typically enroll either full or part-time, but some schools require students to complete the program within a specific number of years. Practicum experience is typically required along with online coursework.

Online Rehabilitation Counseling Degrees to Consider:

The University of Buffalo's online master's in rehabilitation counseling is designed to take three years, with a final year of internship. Although all coursework is online, individuals must set up practicum work through the university's coordinator. According to the university, 95 percent of the program's graduates work in the field of rehabilitation counseling.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock also offers a master's in rehabilitation counseling online. The program can be completed in 18 months, and is a total of 54 credits. Requiring 700 hours of practicum and internship, University of Arkansas' program includes core courses that cover foundations, case management and assessment.

Finally, Texas Tech University's online master's in rehabilitation counseling program includes 30 semester hours of courses, 15 semester hours of practical experience and a three-credit-hour elective. According to the university, the program's emphasis on positive virtual communication has resulted in positive networking among students in the past.

Introduction to Rehabilitation Counseling Careers

When people think of a rehabilitation counselor's work, they may confuse it with drug and alcohol abuse counseling. Rehabilitation is a different realm, and deals with the effects of physical and emotional disabilities, which can result from diseases, accidents or birth defects.

Useful Resources

• American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
• National Rehabilitation Counseling Association
• The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

Rehabilitation Counseling Job Description

Rehabilitation counselors help people with a wide range of physical and emotional disabilities deal with the social, personal and work-related difficulties posed by their disabilities. The rehabilitation counselor spends most of his or her time meeting with patients for counseling sessions. He or she may also speak with the patient's family, educators, employers and physicians in order to assess the patient's progress.

After pinpointing the specific difficulties and needs of each patient, the rehabilitation counselor creates a specialized rehabilitation plan to help address these issues. The rehabilitation counselor may aid clients with everything from developing vocational and social skills to finding work and integrating into the community. The ultimate goal is to help the client confidently lead an independent and emotionally-healthy lifestyle.

Rehabilitation Counseling Requirements

In most cases, a minimum of a master's degree in a field like counseling, followed by one to two years of supervised training, is required. Education and training for rehabilitation counselors may include a range of topics, from career counseling to technological adaptation for disabilities. Through their education, rehabilitation counselors learn how to identify and deal with the mental and physical barriers that may affect the lives of those with disabilities.

Although national certification is not always necessary to practice, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification does offer a certification program which greatly improves career prospects. The certification process involves obtaining a degree from an accredited program, gaining experience through an internship and passing a written exam.

Rehabilitation Counseling Career Outlook

Rehabilitation counselors will have excellent job prospects in the future, with the number of working rehabilitation counselors expected to increase from 129,500 in 2008 to 154,100 in 2018, a 19 percent increase, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average median salary for rehabilitation counselors is $31,210. Rehabilitation counselors in insurance industries earn more on average with annual mean salary of $54,380.

Rehabilitation Counseling Trends

The necessity of rehabilitation counseling is becoming more accepted with each passing year. Those individuals who may have been too shy or embarrassed to seek help in the past are now more likely to pursue it, leading to more jobs for rehabilitation counselors.

Rehabilitation Counseling Degree Programs

Welcome to the most complete directory on the Web of Rehabilitation Counseling programs. It contains all the nationally accredited programs, from 132 schools across the country.

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