Rehabilitation Counseling

Mission/Goal

The Rehabilitation Counseling program at South Carolina State University is committed to improving the lives of persons with disabilities by producing qualified professional rehabilitation counselors (i.e., Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC), National Certified Counselors (NCC), and /or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)) trained in the current best practices of rehabilitation services to work in public, private, State and Federal agencies serving a diverse state, region, and nation.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the Rehabilitation Counseling program are:

• To recruit qualified rehabilitation counselors-in-training who are committed to working with people with disabilities from widely diverse cultures, abilities, dispositions, and backgrounds.
• To train future counselors in effective, sensitive strategies and methods of practice to assist persons from diverse background to obtain their maximum functioning in their community including work.
• To retain counselors-in-training so that they may reach their maximum level of competency, preparation, and satisfaction in their chosen career.
• To place trained rehabilitation counselors into community public, private, State or Federal agencies to serve persons with disabilities ethically, competently, and sensitively respectful of each person’s unique background, value systems, and abilities.
• To provide the community with competent and current services and resources that improves the lives of persons with disabilities and, in turn, enriching the quality of life for all.

Program Highlights:

• Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Earn your degree in 2 ½ years of full-time study
• Program includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship, typically at the same site
• Extensive hands-on practicum and internship experiences
• Specialized activities include providing evaluation, personal and vocational counseling, referral and support for independent living and advocacy
• upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Licensed Professional counselor (LPC), and National Certified Counselor (NCC)
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow by 10% from 2019 and 2029 as the population continues to age and the number of individuals living with disabilities increases.

Career Opportunities:

• State rehabilitation agencies
• Federal Vocational Rehabilitation agencies
• Mental health centers
• Schools/School based Counselors
• Insurance companies
• Hospitals
• Substance abuse agencies
• Independent-living centers
• Correctional facilities
• Private practice

Admission Requirements

Persons desiring admission to the Rehabilitation Counseling Program must:

(1) meet all requirements for full admission to the Graduate School (see Graduate application link below);

(2) complete a Rehabilitation Counseling Program application, which includes a writing sample;

(3) successfully pass an interview conducted by the program’s Admission and Retention Committee; and

(4) have a 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA. While applicants with prior training and/or experience in the Human Services are preferred, others will be considered.

To complete the program successfully, in addition to the Graduate School requirements, student candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better in the Subject Matter courses (Section II below) and report a grade of B or better in each of the practicum and internships courses.