Becoming a Rehabilitation Counselor 

Rehabilitation Counseling is a profession uniquely dedicated to helping individuals with physical, developmental or psychiatric disabilities achieve productive and independent lives. There are a number of undergraduate rehabilitation services programs across the United States, but working in the field as a state vocational rehabilitation counselor usually requires going to graduate school and earning a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Generous financial aid is available in the form of RSA traineeship grants which may cover part or all of the tuition costs. For details about RSA Training Grants. You may also be eligible for additional financial aid such as scholarships, federal work-study, and other grants based on financial need. In addition, those with a related master's degree and the commitment to take required graduate courses are often able to begin working as professional vocational rehabilitation counselors. For general information about becoming a Rehabilitation Counselor.

Careers for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors 

Vocational Rehabilitation is emerging as the hot career choice for high-energy people who want to be creative and independent while they make a very real difference in the lives of others. Newcomers can expect to find a diverse range of opportunities offering competitive salaries and benefits. The demand for new professionals is skyrocketing every year. You can achieve your potential while empowering others to achieve theirs.  Work in a creative, compelling, professional environment infused with passion, idealism, and realism.  Enjoy long-term career growth potential with increasingly competitive salaries and benefits. Choose from a diverse range of professional specialties, including state vocational rehabilitation counselor, vocational evaluator, interpreter, orientation and mobility specialist, teacher, administrator, and many others.

What is the employment outlook for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ?

The career prospects for individuals with a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling are outstanding.  A large percentage of those who entered the field in the 1960's and 1970's are beginning to retire, and the need for qualified counselors continues to grow.  The federal Rehabilitation Services Administration has identified the recruitment of State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors as a matter of national priority.  

In December 2002, the New England Rehabilitation Marketing and Recruitment Project was established to increase awareness and interest in the field of State Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. It was a collaborative effort involving faculty of graduate programs in Rehabilitation Counseling and professionals working for State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.  The goals of the New England Rehabilitation Marketing and Recruitment Project were: 1.) to significantly increase the number of qualified rehabilitation counselors available for employment in State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies across New England; and 2.) to publicize new job openings for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in New England so that qualified candidates would have an opportunity to apply for them.

In December 2005, the project expanded to cover job openings for all of the United States.

The name was changed to: The Recruitment Center . . . for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.

The mission of The Recruitment Center

1. To raise the public's awareness of the exciting and meaningful work of state vocational rehabilitation counselors,
2. To attract the best and brightest undergraduate students to consider enrolling in a graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling.
3. To significantly increase the number of professionally-trained, masters-level rehabilitation counselors who are qualified to work for state vocational rehabilitation agencies.
4. To research and publicize new job openings for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors so that qualified candidates would have an opportunity to apply for them.
5. To work closely with graduate Rehabilitation Counseling Programs and State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies across the country so that all partners are aware of the work of The Recruitment Center.

Are you interested in helping The Recruitment Center?

We are currently forming a national advisory group for The Recruitment Center that will meet via audio teleconferences and communicate via the Internet. There will not be any face-to-face meetings unless members of the advisory group are already in close proximity to each other at a national conference. Email us if you'd like to volunteer for the national advisory group.

We welcome your feedback. Email us your comments and suggestions for improving this work.

Disclaimer

The Recruitment Center . . . for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors strives to provide the most complete, accurate and timely information available about job openings for State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in the United States. The Recruitment Center is not responsible for the material contained in any documents that are linked as resources on the www.rehabjobs.info website. Responsibility for these linked resources rests entirely with the respective provider, organization and/or author.  Linked websites do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of The Recruitment Center, Region 1 RCEP, Assumption College, or the U.S. Department of Education - Rehabilitation Services Administration. We do not guarantee content accuracy and/or completeness of information on the links provided on the www.rehabjobs.info website.  If you have corrections or concerns, please e-mail the webmaster.