Rehabilitation Counselor

Rehabilitation Counselor – Career, Salary & State Licensure

“My advice for aspiring rehabilitation counseling students is to hone in on why you want to become a rehabilitation counselor and hold onto that as your motivation.”

Sarah Roundtree, Program Director and Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC 2024), more than one in four Americans (28.7 percent) is living with a disability. These disabilities can range from physical, to mental, to emotional. About 7.7 percent of Americans struggle to live independently. While some of these disabilities may be life long, many of them onset later on in life.

There are varied health professionals that assist disabled people including doctors, social workers, therapists, and psychologists. However, learning to adapt to day-to-day life with a disability can be incredibly challenging, which is why rehabilitation counselors are essential.

Rehabilitation counselors work with clients with mental, developmental, physical, or psychological disabilities. They provide coaching, counseling, skills training, and advocacy to help their clients live independently, gain employment, and access community resources. Typical places of employment for rehabilitation counselors include government agencies, hospitals, clinics, schools, nonprofits, long‑term care facilities, and senior citizen centers.

After graduating from high school, becoming a rehabilitation counselor takes six to 10 years of education and training. All states require rehabilitation counselors to be licensed and have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.

While certification isn’t required in most states, earning a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) is an industry standard and can boost employment opportunities.

Keep reading to learn the specific steps needed to become a rehabilitation counselor and state requirements for licensing.

Featured Rehabilitation Counseling Programs

Walden University MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling:
Rehabilitation Counseling Visit Site

Walden University MS - School Counseling:
Rehabilitation Counseling Visit Site

Dr. Sarah Roundtree serves as program director and assistant professor for the clinical rehabilitation counseling Program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Her research and clinical work centers on increasing accessibility of higher education for minoritized students and faculty. Pivotal to her interest in the field are her experiences as a woman with non‑apparent disabilities and her brother, who has intellectual and developmental disabilities.

These personal experiences, along with over 20 years of working in the disability community on a volunteer and professional basis, have influenced her to support future generations of counselors in working with people with disabilities.

What would you like the public to understand about rehabilitation health counselors?

Dr. Roundtree:
Clinical rehabilitation counselors (CRCs) specialize in working with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. CRCs serve as advocates in a wide range of settings, including mental health counseling, career counseling, case management, and more.

I often hear that people are unaware that rehabilitation counseling exists. In a world that still has a lot of stigma around disability, I think it’s so important for us to let people know of the services we have available, and remind folks that there are counselors out there who understand your lived experience and are here to support you.

What advice would you give to aspiring rehabilitation counseling students?

Dr. Roundtree:
My advice for aspiring rehabilitation counseling students is to hone in on why you want to become a rehabilitation counselor and hold onto that as your motivation. Many people become CRCs because of personal or familial experience with disability, and we love to hear that! Disability representation and allyship is so important in counseling settings, and we need your expertise and drive.

Don’t be afraid to ask…