Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists

How to become a Rehabilitation Counselor

Official title: Rehabilitation Counselors

Also called: Classification Counselor, CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor), Employment Advisor, Job Coach, Rehabilitation Specialist, Vocational Counselor, Vocational Placement Specialist, Vocational Services Specialist, VRC (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor), Work Counselor

Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.

Main tasks

Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.
Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.

How to become one

Rehabilitation counselors typically need a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field, although a bachelor's degree may be sufficient for some jobs. Some positions require a license or certification.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
College: Science degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 31 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $46,850 a year The middle half earn $38,770 to $59,260.
About 96,900 people work in this job now, and about 99,000 are projected by 2035. (+2.2%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Rehabilitation Counselor?

How much does a Rehabilitation Counselor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $46,850 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,770 to $59,260.

Is a Rehabilitation Counselor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 96,900 to about 99,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Rehabilitation Counselor?

Usually. 65% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Rehabilitation Counselor?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.