What You Need to Know About Rehabilitation Counselor
Occupation Description 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, 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.
Rehabilitation Counselor Responsibilities
- Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients’ abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Manage budgets and direct case service allocations, authorizing expenditures and payments.
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients’ aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- Arrange for physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients’ needs and developing rehabilitation plans.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Collaborate with community agencies to establish facilities and programs for persons with disabilities.
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Skills Needed to be a Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation Counselors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Career Navigator
- Vocational Rehabilitation Manager
- Director of Vocational Evaluations/Rehabilitation Counselor
- Vocational Placement Specialist
- Job Coach
Are There Job Opportunities for Rehabilitation Counselors?
There were about 119,300 jobs for Rehabilitation Counselor in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,100 new jobs for Rehabilitation Counselor by 2026. There will be an estimated 14,500 positions for Rehabilitation Counselor per year.
The states with the most job growth for Rehabilitation Counselor are Arizona, Virginia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Minnesota, Wyoming, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Rehabilitation Counselor
The typical yearly salary for Rehabilitation Counselors is somewhere between $22,990 and $63,820.
Rehabilitation Counselors who work in New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Rehabilitation Counselors make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,080 |
| Alaska | $60,900 |
| Arizona | $33,870 |
| Arkansas | $35,460 |
| California | $37,250 |
| Colorado | $52,620 |
| Connecticut | $44,540 |
| Delaware | $34,820 |
| District of Columbia | $49,400 |
| Florida | $37,790 |
| Georgia | $40,560 |
| Hawaii | $43,340 |
| Idaho | $41,310 |
| Illinois | $40,260 |
| Indiana | $40,930 |
| Iowa | $36,310 |
| Kansas | $32,280 |
| Kentucky | $37,200 |
| Louisiana | $44,650 |
| Maine | $50,860 |
| Maryland | $42,060 |
| Massachusetts | $45,230 |
| Michigan | $40,810 |
| Minnesota | $41,100 |
| Mississippi | $37,910 |
| Missouri | $37,190 |
| Montana | $36,880 |
| Nebraska | $38,290 |
| Nevada | $41,230 |
| New Hampshire | $45,870 |
| New Jersey | $65,350 |
| New Mexico | $38,460 |
| New York | $36,040 |
| North Carolina | $39,500 |
| North Dakota | $47,930 |
| Ohio | $39,890 |
| Oklahoma | $26,150 |
| Oregon | $44,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,980 |
| Rhode Island | $57,430 |
| South Carolina | $32,720 |
| South Dakota | $41,550 |
| Tennessee | $26,080 |
| Texas | $44,910 |
| Utah | $44,900 |
| Vermont | $44,070 |
| Virginia | $43,840 |
| Washington | $49,940 |
| West Virginia | $33,150 |
| Wisconsin | $31,510 |
| Wyoming | $36,870 |
What Tools do Rehabilitation Counselors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Rehabilitation Counselors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Encryption software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Reader
- Netscape Navigator
- Budgeting software
- Voice recognition software
- Test interpretation software
- Chart Links
How do I Become a Rehabilitation Counselor?
Learn what Rehabilitation Counselor education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Rehabilitation Counselors Sector
Below are examples of industries where Rehabilitation Counselors work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Rehabilitation Counselor might also be interested in the following careers:
- Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Those who work as a Rehabilitation Counselor sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Barbara E. Carver via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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