Rehabilitation Counseling - WWWRRC (Rasch\USF)
Becoming a Rehabilitation Counselor
The discipline of Rehabilitation Counseling developed from
enlightened social legislation passed by an early 20th Century
Congress of the United States of America.
Rehabilitation Counseling is a profession uniquely dedicated to helping individuals with physical, mental (developmental and adventitious brain injuries), and psychiatric disabilities achieve productive and independent lives. The discipline is taught and practiced all over America, and here Rehabilitation Counselors are always trained at the master's level. There are a number of undergraduate rehabilitation services programs around the United States, but entering the discipline requires going to graduate school and earning a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Programs range from 48 to 60 semester hours, and established programs are usually accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Prospective students should inquire about CORE accreditation. If the program is not CORE accredited, the graduate will need a full year of work experience, under the supervision of a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, before being eligible to sit for the discipline's examination.
Preparing For Graduate Studies
Most American universities require students to submit Graduate Record Examination scores in addition to undergraduate transcripts and letters of recommendation. International students are usually required to submit TOEFL scores. As policy, or at the discretion of the faculty, a personal interview is also required. Admission standards vary from one university to another, but a combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 1000 on the GRE and undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is adequate for admission to most U.S. programs. No specific undergraduate major is required, but most students have bachelor's degrees in one of the social or behavioral sciences.
Financial Aid
Some university programs have traineeships from the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration that cover tuition and provide a stipend for living expenses. Most programs also have a small and limited number of research and/or graduate assistantships, and all American universities have an Office of Financial Aid.
Click below for information on college financial aid:
The Financial Aid Information Page
Required Courses
The curriculum content of RCE programs is specified by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE), but specific course titles vary from one RCE Program to another. The following are fairly typical of required courses: (1) Introduction to Rehabilitation Counseling, (2) Counseling Theories and Techniques, (3) Personality Theories, (4) Psychosocial Aspects of Disability, (5) Medical Aspects of Disability, (6) Evaluation and Assessment, (7) Vocational Aspects of Disability, (8) Rehabilitation Case Management, (9) Research Methods, (10) Practicum, and (11) Internship. All CORE accredited programs have at least one practicum (minimum of 100 field hours) and an Internship (minimum of 600 field hours).
Where is Training Available?
Click below for the NCRE Homepage
National Council on Rehabilitation Education
Click below for a listing of CORE accredited programs
CORE Accredited Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling
Click below for information about the CRC examination
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
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