Rehabilitation Counseling Program

(Masters Degree Program)

Employment Opportunities
The demand for comprehensive rehabilitation services is rapidly growing as new medical treatment approaches, assistive technologies, workplace adaptations, environmental barriers, and various specialized services are identified. Economic factors such as unemployment and high technology are creating new labor problems necessitating more highly skilled professionals to help persons with physical, behavioral and mental limitations deal with these challenges. The key professional to identify and coordinate needed services is the rehabilitation counselor. The changing roles and demands of the professional rehabilitation counselor are resulting in many new job openings in a variety of settings. Since all state rehabilitation agencies follow the same general procedures for providing services, a rehabilitation counselor is able to move to various geographical locations throughout the country with little difficulty finding employment. Rehabilitation counselors have the opportunity to work with many populations, including individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, have visual impairments, substance abuse issues, developmental disabilities physical disabilites, mentally retarded, juvenile/adult offenders, and persons with psychiatric disabilities. They also may provide general and specialized counseling to the non-disabled population as professional counselors.

Accreditation/Certification/Licensure
The rehabilitation counseling program at ESU was first accredited in 1975. It still maintains its national accreditation from the Council on Rehabilitation Education Inc. (CORE). Rehabilitation Counseling Program Accreditation is a type of professional recognition granted to M.S. degree programs that have met specified standards of preparation for master's level students.

The rehabilitation counseling curriculum meets national preparation standards so that graduates are eligible for national certification. Graduates are eligible for national certification as rehabilitation counselors (CRC) upon completion of the program. Students who follow the recommended 60 hour program option are also eligible to become licensed professional counselors in Kansas.

Certification is a form of professional recognition provided an individual. The primary purpose of certification is to provide assurance that professionals engaged in rehabilitation counseling will meet acceptable standards of quality in practice. National certification is granted to individuals by the Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Graduates may also qualify for certification in other counselor specialties (e.g., mental health counseling, career counseling, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, general counseling) and licensure in those states that license professional counselors.

Financial Assistance
General graduate assistantships are also available to qualified students. Specific requirements and enrollment limitations for graduate assistant positions are described in the graduate policy handbook. Students interested in applying for a position in the Department should contact either the Chair of the Department or the Rehabilitation Program Directors for more information.

On occassion, the Rehabilitation Counsleing Program receives Federal training grants from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The amendments to the Rehabilitation Act in 1986 require recipients of RSA traineeships to "pay back" their financial assistance through employment in a State agency or nonprofit or related facility or agency providing services under an agreement with a state rehabilitation agency. Full details on payback requirements are provided with the notice of the award of a traineeship. While these grants usually are awarded to the Rehabilitation Counseling Program for the three to five year period, annual funding is always contingent on congressional budget allocations. Your advisor has up-to-date information on current program training grants.

Professional Organizations
Throughout the academic programs of students the importance of involvement in professional organizations is stressed. Students are encouraged to join at least one of the two national organizations that represent the rehabilitation counseling profession. Students are encouraged to join either the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA) or the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA). The majority of students become involved in the Student Chapter of the Kansas Rehabilitation Association. It is a very active student organization on campus with meetings every month.

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