Rehabilitation Counseling
About This Program |
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Admissions ContactAlie Baranauskas |
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Program ContactKathleen Green, PhD |
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What is rehabilitation counseling? |
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Salary Report of Certified Rehabilitation Counselors |
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Upcoming EventsIn-Person Information Session (Springfield, Mass., programs) Spring Graduate Fair |
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The field of rehabilitation counseling is focused on increasing quality of life for people with disabilities by assisting them in achieving their personal, social, career, and independent living goals through the counseling process. Rehabilitation counselors are employed in a wide range of settings including: state vocational rehabilitation agencies, colleges and universities, K-12 schools, the Department of Veterans Affairs, insurance companies, private practice, and non-profit and other community organizations that support people with congenital and acquired disabilities in reaching their goals. Our rehabilitation counseling program, one of the oldest in the country, aims to develop and hone students’ counseling skills through a combination of coursework and professionally supervised clinical experiences. Our program graduates become advocates and change agents who empower people with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
Our program is fully accredited by the Council of the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and graduates are eligible to sit for the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam. With a few purposeful elective courses, appropriate practicum, internship, and post-master’s supervision requirements fulfilled, rehabilitation counseling graduates may also be eligible to become licensed mental health counselors (LMHC) and licensed professional counselors (LPC) in many states. Students are advised to check with their state’s licensing board to verify that our program meets their state’s requirements for licensure.
As noted by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC; 2020), “Rehabilitation counselors are the only professional counselors educated and trained at the graduate level specifically to serve individuals with disabilities. This includes an extensive knowledge of all aspects of disability as well as an in-depth understanding of critical considerations such as assistive technology and employment law. Unlike other counseling professionals, rehabilitation counselors are uniquely qualified to help individuals with disabilities acclimate into the workplace, and to help employers make a workplace more receptive to individuals with disabilities.”
A 2014 American Counseling Association compensation study found that Rehabilitation Counseling was on average the highest paid counseling specialty area.
About the Rehabilitation Counseling Program
- Academic credential granted: MEd or MS
- Credits Required: 60
- Curriculum
- Rehabilitation Counseling Program Sequence Guide and Course Checklist
- Practicum/Fieldwork Hours: 700 total (100 practicum and 600 internahip)
- Time to complete program: takes about 2 years for full-time students to complte coursework
- Full-time/part-time description:
- Full-time is enrolled in 9 or more credits
- Part-time is 1 to 6 credits
- Students need to enroll in at least 6 credits to be eligible for financial aid
What Makes the Springfield College Rehabilitation Counseling Program Unique?
- Small class sizes
- World-class faculty
- Coursework allows graduates to be eligible to become both a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in many states and for the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential
- Grant funding available to assist with tuition
- Commitment to social justice and a belief in the dignity and worth of all people
Funding Your Education
- Rehabilitation Services Association Long-Term Training Grant available for Springfield College Rehabilitation Counseling students to assist with paying for your education.
- Learn more about graduate fellowships and scholarships
Commitment to Social Justice
The Springfield College Counseling Department is committed to providing multicultural education and opportunities to assist students in becoming change agents in the field. Students learn about how people with disabilities are impacted by society and the systems in place, influencing our clients’ quality of life.
Accreditation and Licensure
- The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam
- With a few additional courses, appropriate practicum, internship, and post-master's supervision requirements fulfilled, rehabilitation counseling graduates may also be eligible to become licensed mental health counselors (LMHC) and licensed professional counselors (LPC) in many states (students are advised to check with their state's licensing board to verify that program meets their state's requirements)
- Check out the Rehabilitation Counseling program outcomes
- Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs:
- 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510
Alexandria, VA 22314
- 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510
Rehabilitation Counseling...the Best Kept Secret in the Counseling Field
- Holistic focus: consider individuals' biological, psychological, and social factors that impact their ability to function in society
- Goal to help help clients grow through self-advocacy; psychological, social, behavioral, and vocational interventions
- Serve individuals who have a variety of disabilities, including those with mental, physical, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities
- One of the highest-paid counseling professionals
- Learn more: What is rehabilitation counseling?
Career Options After Graduation
Settings where graduates work:
- Education
- High school, higher education, transition services
- Work and Career
- State-federal VR, community based rehabilitation, veterans rehabilitation, private sector VR-insurance, disability management, employees assistance, workers compensation
- Community Living
- Independent living centers, residential programs, supported housing, recreation, leisure, social participation programs, life-care planning
Settings where graduates work post-graduate work:
- Community agencies
- Veterans affairs
- Schools
- Nonprofit organizations
- Businesses and corporations
- Colleges and universities
- Private for-profit agencies
- Specialty areas:
- Transition
- Expert Witness/Forensic
- Corrections
Populations graduates may work with:
- In the field of rehabilitation counseling, counselors will work with those who have congenital and/or acquired disabilities that include mental, physical, developmental, cognitive, and emotional
Program Outcomes
During the 2020-2021 academic year:
- 9 students graduated from the program.
- The average program completion rate is 79%.
- The pass rate for the certified rehabilitation counselor exam was approximately 50%, within the range of the national pass rates for this past year.
- The job placement rate for our graduates is 100%.
- The average time necessary to complete the program is two years full time. The estimated cost of program attendance is $66,300 for the 60-credit program.
Admissions Requirements
This program enrolls students in all terms.
Complete the application form. No application fee.
Start your application process by completing the online application form. Be sure to complete your application by submitting all the required materials outlined in this section.
Graduate Admissions Essay
Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your essay.
In two to three double-spaced pages, please describe significant life experiences that have contributed to your interest in your field, your understanding of this field, your occupational objectives, and why you have chosen Springfield College.
Resume
Please include any college activities, out-of-school leadership experiences, work history, and community involvement to support your interest in or qualifications for graduate study. Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your resume.
Letters of Recommendation
This program requires two letters of recommendation. Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application.
Interview
This program requires an interview.
Official Transcripts from All Institutions Previously/Currently Attended
- An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required.
- Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. In some cases, including if you plan to request coursework be transferred, a course-by-course translation is required. For this we recommend the World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
- In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:
Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109
International Applicants
All international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required, in addition to the items listed above, to submit:
- Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS. Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed college-level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
- Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.
The staff in the Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.
To submit materials:
After submitting your online application form you will receive user login credentials to access your student application portal. From that portal, you will be able to upload your graduate admissions essay and your resume. Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload their letter to your application. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:
Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109
Curriculum
Core Requirements (30 credits)
- COUN 603 - Assessment, Appraisal and Testing in Counseling Credits: 3
- COUN 610 - Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling Credits: 3
- COUN 613 - Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling Credits: 3
- COUN 614 - Counseling Diverse Populations Credits: 3
- COUN 617 - Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Credits: 3
- COUN 622 - Counseling Theories Credits: 3
- COUN 625 - Group Work: Theories and Practice Credits: 3
- COUN 629 - Counseling Skill Development Credits: 3
- COUN 634 - Human Development Across the Lifespan Credits: 3
- COUN 643 - Career Counseling and Development Credits: 3
Rehabilitation Counseling Requirements
- COUN 606 - Case Management and Rehabilitation Planning Credits: 3
- COUN 646 - Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability Credits: 3
- COUN 650 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Job Placement Credits: 3
- RHCN 601 - Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling Credits: 3
- RHCN 684 - Rehabilitation Counseling Practicum Credits: 1-12
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(must be taken for a minimum of 3 credits to meet program requirements)
- RHCN 686 - Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling Credits: 3-9
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(must be taken for a minimum of 6 credits to meet program requirements)
Deadline
Priority Deadlines are as follows:
- March 15th for summer (May) entry
- July 15th for fall (September) entry
- December 1st for spring (January) entry
All supporting materials are due as follows:
- April 1st for summer (May) entry
- August 1st for fall (September) entry
- January 1st for spring (January) entry
