Rehabilitation Counselor – Career, Salary & State Licensure

HomeCareersRehabilitation Counselor

“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
Arizona State University	Counseling and Applied Psychological Science (BS)	Visit Site
Arizona State University	Counseling and Applied Psychological Science - Sport and Performance Counseling (BS)	Visit Site
Walden University	MS - Dual Degree: Clinical Mental Health & School Counseling - Rehabilitation Counseling	Visit Site
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Q&A with Expert: Sarah Michelle Roundtree, PhD

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.

CounselingSchools.com: 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.

CounselingSchools.com: 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 questions, be yourself, and seek support when you need it. The right program will want that for you too!

How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor

Step 1: Graduate from High School or Complete a GED (Four Years)

Completing high school or obtaining a GED is the first step toward becoming a rehabilitation counselor. Students who wish to pursue this career should focus on psychology, biology, math, and English classes. Taking advanced placement (AP) classes and the associated exams can earn students college credits before graduating high school, which can reduce the number of credits needed for their undergraduate degree.

Step 2: Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree (Four Years)

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree is necessary to become a rehabilitation counselor, as it is required by most master’s programs. While students can major in various fields, the most common degrees are in disability services, counseling, psychology, social sciences, and rehabilitation counseling. Students should complete internships or volunteer experiences in rehabilitation counseling to give them experience in the field and strengthen their graduate school applications.

Step 3: Complete a Master’s Degree (One to Three Years)

A graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field is typically required for this career. Programs are offered online and on-campus, allowing students the flexibility to choose how they will complete their education.

To earn CRC certification and state licensing, students must attend either a regionally accredited institution or one that is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program must include a 600-hour internship, of which 240 hours must be direct client contact.

Step 4: Pass the CRC Exam (Timeline Varies)

To be a certified rehabilitation counselor, prospective professionals must pass the CRC exam. This exam is administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) and costs a fee. The test is offered three times a year in March, July, and October.

Candidates will have three-and-a-half hours to answer 175 multiple-choice questions in 12 knowledge domains of rehabilitation counseling. An immediate pass or fail is given upon completion of the test, with a more detailed score report to follow a few weeks post-exam.

Step 5: Complete State Required Supervised Work Experience (One to Four Years)

All states require rehabilitation counselors to be licensed and complete supervised work experience. The number of hours of experience varies by state, but it can be as low as 2,000 hours or as high as 6,000. Additional education beyond a master’s degree can often reduce the required hours. Some states require counselors to have an associate or intern license while obtaining these hours, while others do not.

Step 6: Attain Licensure (Timelines Varies)

Most states require rehabilitation counselors to earn the same license as a licensed professional counselor, although there are a few states that have separate rehabilitation counselor licenses. Not all states accept the CRC exam for licensure, so it may be necessary to take another national counseling exam and any required state jurisprudence exams.

Step 7: Maintain Certification and Licensure (Timelines Varies)

Each state has its own requirements for maintaining counseling licenses. Requirements typically include an application, an application fee, and completing continuing education hours. To maintain CRC certification, holders must renew every five years. Requirements to renew include completing 100 hours of continuing education or retaking the CRC exam.

Online Rehabilitation Counseling School Profiles

Browse a complete listing of online rehabilitation counseling programs, ranked by in-state (resident) tuition, from most affordable to least. Out-of-state students should refer to the non-resident tuition numbers.

These numbers reflect the estimated tuition cost of the entire program, calculated by multiplying the published per-credit tuition rate (for the latest academic year) by the total number of credits that must be completed.

Please click on any school of interest for a full-page school profile containing complete program details.

School

Programs

Tuition
(resident)

Tuition
(non-resident)

Programs & Tuition

State University of New York at Buffalo

Advanced Certificate – Rehabilitation Counseling	$7,065	$8,475
MS – Rehabilitation Counseling	$28,260	$33,900

Advanced Certificate – Rehabilitation Counseling – $7,065 (in-state), $8,475 (out)
MS – Rehabilitation Counseling – $28,260 (in-state), $33,900 (out)

Troy University

Post-Master's Certificate in Rehabilitation and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Studies	$7,125	$7,125
MS in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling	$28,500	$28,500

Post-Master's Certificate in Rehabilitation and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Studies – $7,125 (in-state), $7,125 (out)
MS in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling – $28,500 (in-state), $28,500 (out)

Fort Valley State University

MS – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$11,346

$43,920

MS – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $11,346 (in-state), $43,920 (out)

George Washington University

Graduate Certificate – Foundations of Rehabilitation Services	$12,360	$12,360
MA – Rehabilitation Counseling	$61,200	$61,200

Graduate Certificate – Foundations of Rehabilitation Services – $12,360 (in-state), $12,360 (out)
MA – Rehabilitation Counseling – $61,200 (in-state), $61,200 (out)

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

MS in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$16,810

$34,740

MS in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $16,810 (in-state), $34,740 (out)

Albany State University

M.Ed. in Counselor Education – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$18,480

M.Ed. in Counselor Education – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $18,480 (in-state), $18,480 (out)

New Mexico Highlands University

MA in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$19,701

$31,641

MA in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $19,701 (in-state), $31,641 (out)

University of Arkansas Little Rock

MA in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$23,760

MA in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $23,760 (in-state), $23,760 (out)

Alabama State University

MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

$28,620

MS in Rehabilitation Counseling – $28,620 (in-state), $28,620 (out)

University of Alabama

MA in Rehabilitation Counseling

$28,800

MA in Rehabilitation Counseling – $28,800 (in-state), $28,800 (out)

Mississippi State University

MS – Rehabilitation Counseling

$34,860

MS – Rehabilitation Counseling – $34,860 (in-state), $34,860 (out)

Truman State University

MA in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling

$35,040

MA in Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling – $35,040 (in-state), $35,040 (out)

San Diego State University

Online MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

$35,580

Online MS in Rehabilitation Counseling – $35,580 (in-state), $35,580 (out)

Auburn University

M.Ed. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$37,800

M.Ed. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $37,800 (in-state), $37,800 (out)

Thomas University

MS in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$38,100

MS in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $38,100 (in-state), $38,100 (out)

East Central University Online

BA in Human Services Counseling – Rehabilitation

$39,816

$80,256

BA in Human Services Counseling – Rehabilitation – $39,816 (in-state), $80,256 (out)

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

MS in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$45,600

MS in Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $45,600 (in-state), $45,600 (out)

Salve Regina University

MA in Clinical Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling

$45,600

MA in Clinical Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling – $45,600 (in-state), $45,600 (out)

Springfield College

MEd in Rehabilitation Counseling

$46,440

MEd in Rehabilitation Counseling – $46,440 (in-state), $46,440 (out)

Virginia Commonwealth University

MS in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

$47,040

MS in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – $47,040 (in-state), $47,040 (out)

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Licensing & Certification Requirements By State for Rehabilitation Counselors

State	Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
North Dakota	North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners (NDBCE)	Rehabilitation counselors in North Dakota can earn one of three levels of mental health counselors licenses: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) LAPC applicants must: Complete a 60 semester-credit (90 quarter-credits) master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. Programs must satisfy the course requirements. It must also include a minimum 7000 hours of practicum/internship in counselingSubmit a background check Provide three letters of recommendation Pass the NCE exam Pay application fee Complete a plan for supervision To become an LPC, candidates must meet the above requirements and additionally: Have 100 hours of direct supervision (including 60 hours of individual face-to-face supervision) and 400 hours of direct client contact over the two-year LAPC supervisory period Provide a signed recommendation for LPC licensure by their supervising professional Pay application fee For LPCC licensure, candidates must already hold an LPC license, as well as: Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience completed in two years. Please note that 100 hours must be under supervision of an LPCC and 60 must be face-to-face and individual A total of 60 graduate semester credits, including abnormal psychology, psychopathology, and clinical counseling skills Pay application fee Submit three letters of recommendation, one from the supervisor of the work experience Pass the NCMHCE	LPCCs and LPCs are required to renew their licenses every two years in North Dakota. There is a fee to renew. The LAPC license is good for two years and cannot be renewed. However, an extension can be requested via recommendation of an associate professional counselor’s supervisor; log of individual, group, and client contact hours to date; and a proposed schedule to finish the required supervision and client contact hours. There are associated fees. LPCCs are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education, along with 10 additional hours of clinical professional development. LPCs are required to complete 30 continuing education hours. Of those hours, 15 must be face-to-face attendance for LPCs and 20 hours for LPCCs. Both types of licensees must submit three hours of ethics. Renewals also must be accompanied by a Statement of Professional Intent, which details the scope of practice, how the practice is delivered, and who is the primary clientele.

State

Licensing Authority

Eligibility & Details

Renewal Requirements

North Dakota

North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners (NDBCE)

Rehabilitation counselors in North Dakota can earn one of three levels of mental health counselors licenses:

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC)

LAPC applicants must:

Complete a 60 semester-credit (90 quarter-credits) master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. Programs must satisfy the course requirements. It must also include a minimum 7000 hours of practicum/internship in counselingSubmit a background check
Provide three letters of recommendation
Pass the NCE exam
Pay application fee
Complete a plan for supervision

To become an LPC, candidates must meet the above requirements and additionally:

Have 100 hours of direct supervision (including 60 hours of individual face-to-face supervision) and 400 hours of direct client contact over the two-year LAPC supervisory period
Provide a signed recommendation for LPC licensure by their supervising professional
Pay application fee

For LPCC licensure, candidates must already hold an LPC license, as well as:

Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience completed in two years. Please note that 100 hours must be under supervision of an LPCC and 60 must be face-to-face and individual
A total of 60 graduate semester credits, including abnormal psychology, psychopathology, and clinical counseling skills
Pay application fee
Submit three letters of recommendation, one from the supervisor of the work experience
Pass the NCMHCE

LPCCs and LPCs are required to renew their licenses every two years in North Dakota. There is a fee to renew.

The LAPC license is good for two years and cannot be renewed. However, an extension can be requested via recommendation of an associate professional counselor’s supervisor; log of individual, group, and client contact hours to date; and a proposed schedule to finish the required supervision and client contact hours. There are associated fees.

LPCCs are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education, along with 10 additional hours of clinical professional development. LPCs are required to complete 30 continuing education hours. Of those hours, 15 must be face-to-face attendance for LPCs and 20 hours for LPCCs.

Both types of licensees must submit three hours of ethics. Renewals also must be accompanied by a Statement of Professional Intent, which details the scope of practice, how the practice is delivered, and who is the primary clientele.

What Do Rehabilitation Counselors Do?

Certified rehabilitation counselors work in clinics, doctor’s offices, youth organizations, hospitals, community centers, government agencies, schools, and nonprofits providing services to disabled individuals. Responsibilities vary based on place of employment but typical job duties include:

Meeting with clients to understand their disability
Setting goals with clients for independence
Writing treatment plans based on goals
Providing counseling to help clients adapt to their disabilities
Consulting with clients’ other healthcare workers such as psychologists, caseworkers, and physical therapists
Advocating for clients with housing services, employers, and other agencies
Assisting clients to access services such as government assistance, therapy, and skill training
Assessing the client’s progress towards goals
Maintaining client records
Educating employers about the client’s disability and rights

How Much Do Rehabilitation Counselors Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2024), rehabilitation counselors earn on average $51,260 per year. Wages vary based on experience, level of education, and place of employment. The percentiles for national wages were:

10th percentile: $34,480
25th percentile: $38,700
50th percentile (median): $46,110
75th percentile: $59,040
90th percentile: $77,200

Rehabilitation Counselor Professional Associations & Resources

The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
National Rehabilitation Association (NRA)
The American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA)
The National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE)
National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM)
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
National Council on Disability (NCD)

Kimmy Gustafson

Writer

At CounselingSchools.com, Kimmy Gustafson’s expertly crafted articles delve into the world of counseling and mental health, providing valuable insights and guidance to readers since 2020. In addition to feature pieces and interviews, she keeps the state licensing tables current. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.