Rehabilitation Counselor, Rehabilitation Counseling Schools, Education, Employment, Career, and Jobs

What is Rehabilitation Counselor?
Individuals who have disabilities face unique challenges, which many times need to be solved by creative alternatives. No matter if a person is faced with an emotional, mental or developmental disability, a rehabilitation counselor can help him achieve professional and personal goals that will help him lead a more fulfilling life.

Rehabilitation is a profession that is essential in the medical field, and it focuses on providing the treatment that is necessary to restore mental and physical function. This is an especially growing field due to so many of our soldiers being maimed both physically and mentally in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You may be wondering what the exact duties are. Here is a list of just several of them:

1. Assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of their patients

2. Provide counseling services for the arrangement of medical care, vocational training, case management and employment placement

3. Conduct interviews with patients as well as their families

4. In order to help their patients achieve their goals, they works at creating individualized rehab programs

5. Works with individuals or groups

6. Works with employers to educate them concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act

7. Works with placement agencies that help disabled people gain employment

How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor:
First, if you are thinking of becoming a rehabilitation counselor, you need to graduate from an accredited high school or GED. Next, you will have to take the ACT or SAT examination in order to get into an accredited college. The prospective rehabilitation counselor has to at least obtain a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation counseling, services or some other related field. Here are some of the courses that you can expect to take during your college career:

a. Psychology
b. Anatomy
c. Medical Terminology
d. Sociology
e. Physiology
f. Rehabilitation Procedures

Many of those who aspire to go into rehabilitative counseling career will complete internships as they continue to pursue their education in order to gain practical experience. Many employers will provide on-the-job training for newly hired counselors so that they may learn the essential procedures and practices of the profession.

In today's competitive society, many employers make it a stipulation that any rehabilitation counselors they hire become certified according to the "Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification". Requirements to be certified may vary according to state, but usually they include a minimum education, which is bachelor's degree, experience and obtaining certification. The certified rehab counselor must complete continuing educational courses along with additional training in order to keep their certification current.

Many professional rehab counselors will continue their education and go on to obtain their master's degree. You will first earn your MA in counseling, and then after you finish your first year of employment as a post-graduate, then become a certified rehabilitation counselor.

Rehab counselors find work in a variety of community programs and state departments. They also find employment for profit and nonprofit organizations like schools, universities and colleges, drug rehabilitation houses and residential care facilities.

Rehabilitation Counselor Salary:
Rehab counselors make decent money. The average salary is $54,000 per year. You can expect your pay to keep going up as you gain more experience and years of service.

Rehabilitation Counseling School:
If you’re looking to study rehab counseling, you need to attend the right school. Visit the Embanet website to find the right school for you. While there, you can request for free no obligation information through this link.

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