Rehabilitation Counseling

About This Program
	What is rehabilitation counseling? Learn more about the field.
	Admissions Contact Samantha Sargent Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator for the School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences ssargent2@springfield.edu (413) 748-3060
	Contact Kathleen Green, PhD Graduate Program Director, Rehabilitation Counseling Department of Counseling (413) 748-3566 kgreen5@springfield.edu
	Learn more about the Department of Counseling.
	View the career outcomes

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.

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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

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

Kathleen Green, program director for rehabilitation counseling and Assistant Professor of Counseling at Springfield College, provides an overview of Springfield College's Rehabilitation Counseling program.

Kelsey Poole, CRC, G'15

Imagine where your master's degree could take you. Now listen to Kelsey's story. Hear how her experience with the graduate programs at Springfield College helps her now embody the Humanics philosophy of educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

Students and Faculty sit in a room used for counseling.

Springfield College Rehabilitation Counseling Program Ranked in Top Tier of U.S.News Rankings

The Springfield College Rehabilitation Counseling Program has ranked in the top tier in the category of “Best Health Schools” in the latest U.S. News Best Colleges report, making it one of only two Colleges or Universities in New England ranked in the top 20.

Being an Asian International Student in the Time of COVID-19

Springfield College Rehabilitation Counseling student Anni Wang wrote a story about being an Asian international student in the time of COVID-19. The piece was published in the North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision student newsletter.

Learn More

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. 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. 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.

Our Associate Director of International Admissions Nicholas Venn can answer any questions you may have about enrolling in Springfield College as an international student. You may email him at nvenn@springfield.edu or via phone at (413) 748-3891.

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