Information for Online Certificate Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling
Online rehabilitation counseling certificate programs are usually designed for those in counseling, social work, behavioral health, or a similar field who want to deepen their rehabilitation counseling skills and knowledge. Some certificate programs may also help students meet certain eligibility requirements in order to sit for rehabilitation counselor certification exams. Typically, rehabilitation counseling certificate programs require about 18 to 22 credit hours, and they can be completed in a 100% online format in about 1 year.
Career Development
In your rehabilitation counseling certificate program, you will likely take a course that covers career development theories and practices so that you can help clients (those with and without disability) with employment issues. To give you a foundational understanding of career development, you may study such things as labor market analysis, skills training, and transferable skills analysis. Usually, the aim of this course is to teach you how to create an employment strategy or job placement plan for your client.
Medical/Physiological Aspects of Disability
As a rehabilitation counselor, you will likely work with a range of clients who have some sort of disability, which is why you may take a course that covers the medical and physiological basis for various disabilities, mental health conditions, and chronic illnesses. These types of courses usually examine the cause, progression, and symptoms of physical and mental conditions as well as how the condition affects how the individual can or does function. Some courses also focus on diagnostics processes and tools, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and assessment and intervention methods.
Vocational Assessment and Evaluation
A course that centers on vocational assessment and evaluation is usually designed to give you practical skills for assessing clients with disabilities so that you can create a rehabilitation plan for them. Here, you will likely learn about specific psychological assessment tests, such as personality, interest, aptitude, function, and achievement tests. You also learn how to administer these tests and how to interpret and report results.
Counseling Theories
To help you develop your counseling skills and knowledge, you could also take a course that focuses on various counseling theories within the context of applying them to rehabilitation counseling and working with clients who have mental, psychical, and/or emotional disabilities. Specific theories you might study include behavioral, dynamic, and holistic counseling theory. Some courses also include a practical counseling aspect where you might learn about non-traditional counseling techniques like role-playing.
Rehabilitation Case Management
In your work as a rehabilitation counselor, you will likely need to know how to properly coordinate, plan, and manage the care of your clients. This course aims to train you in effective case management, covering such concepts as service coordinating, client advocacy, and case planning. Some courses also examine legal and ethical considerations of case management.
Multicultural and Diverse Rehabilitation Counseling
Generally, rehabilitation counselors work with clients who come from different backgrounds, which is why it's possible your program may include a course that explores multicultural and diversity counseling topics. Here, you might study the ethnic, racial, linguistic, and cultural factors that affect counseling services, delivery, and planning. Courses of this type might also cover related topics, such as social justice and mental health and disability stigmas.
Admissions Requirements for Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate Programs
Generally, to apply to a rehabilitation counseling certificate program, you must already hold a master's, specialist, or doctoral degree. Further, your degree may need to be in one of the following areas:
- Occupational therapy
- Human services
- Psychology
- Marriage and family therapy
- Social work
- Special education
- Vocational assessment/evaluation
- Psychometrics
- Behavioral health/science
- Disability studies
Application materials may include an application, fees, transcripts, a resume or CV, and letters of recommendation. Many programs also require that you submit a statement of purpose, or self-statement, that addresses your qualifications and experiences as well as why you want to study rehabilitation counseling and what your career goals are. A limited number of programs might also require a personal interview.
There are several rehabilitation counseling certificate programs that feature an online format and are designed for those who already hold a graduate degree in a similar field. In these certificate programs, you may study such topics as career development, counseling theories, and rehabilitation assessment.
