Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of having disabilities. They counsel people with disabilities, illness or disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life. They provide personal and vocational counseling, and arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement.
Rehabilitation counselors usually work a standard 40-hour week. Self-employed counselors and those working in mental health and community agencies often work evenings to counsel clients who work during the day.
$48,000
Employment of rehabilitation counselors is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow with the increase in the elderly population and with the continued rehabilitation needs of other groups, such as veterans and people with disabilities.
Counselors receive their education through academic programs at community colleges, colleges and universities. Most counselors receive a 4-year bachelor’s degree plus a graduate degree. There are 2-year associate degrees that offer certification in specialized areas of counseling.
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisite: Graduation from an approved program.
American Counseling Association
5999 Stevenson Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-823-9800
www.counseling.org