Part of the Graduate School of Education
Rehabilitation Counseling, AC
Our rehabilitation counseling advanced certificate program is for you if you hold a master's degree in counseling or a Category R field (see Program Coursework below) and you want to help veterans or people with disabilities return to work or live independently. You will learn how to build your counseling skills and work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, and professional effects of disabilities on achieving their goals. Our program provides you with the educational requirements to be eligible for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential while complying with all Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) requirements.
Why Rehabilitation Counseling at UB?
The features of our program include:
- training in a field that is high in demand due to an increasing elderly population and the continued rehabilitation needs of other groups, such as veterans and people with disabilities
- training in a field with a projected employment growth of 20 percent through 2022 (U.S. Department of Labor)
- training in a field that is the highest paid counseling profession, including better overall benefits (American Counseling Association)
- program courses that are approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and the Council for Accreditation and Related Programs
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Advanced Certificate |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 15–21 |
| Time to completion | 3 to 4 part-time semesters |
| Course delivery | Online |
| Careers | Rehabilitation counseling settings include:
|
| Application deadline | Fall admission: May 1 priority, then rolling Summer admission: May 1 priority, then rolling |
Program Coursework
Required courses are planned with your advisor. You can meet specific academic eligibility requirements for the the CRC exam within Category D, E or R as set by the CRCC. (Category R eligible academic fields: behavioral health/science, disability services, human relations/services, marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, psychometrics, rehabilitation, social work, special education and vocational assessment/evaluation.)
You may also complete the certificate program for general study of the rehabilitation counseling field without the goal of CRC exam eligibility.
If you have previously completed one of the required courses, you may be eligible to substitute an alternate course offered by the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology.
Sample coursework includes:
- Assessment
- Case Management and Rehabilitation Services
- Counseling Theories and Techniques
- Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling
- Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
- Multicultural Issues
- Occupational Information or Job Placement
The criteria required for CRC exam eligibility include:
- completion of the education requirements based on your CRCC eligibility category or general interest
- acceptable work experience as determined by the CRCC, based on your eligibilty category
NOTE: New York State uses the CRC credential as their state license for rehabilitation counseling only, whereas other states may use the credential for mental health counseling. If you are interested in mental health counseling and live in New York, please visit our mental health counseling program information.
Faculty
Application Requirements
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- CRC Category R eligibility: If you are seeking CRC category R eligibility, include evidence of earning an advanced degree in one of the following thirteen areas of study, or designated equivalent, as prescribed by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC): Behavioral Health, Behavioral Science, Disability Studies, Human Relations, Human Services, Marriage and Family Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Psychometrics, Rehabilitation, Social Work, Special Education and Vocational Assessment/Evaluation.
- CRC Category D eligibility: If you are seeking CRC category D eligibility, include evidence of earning a qualifying Master's degree in Counseling.
- Personal Statement: A personal statement outlining your personal and/or professional reasons for wanting to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, or other reasons for wanting the Advanced Graduate Certificate. Please include how you plan to meet the CRCC category requirements if you are planning on earning the CRC credential.
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admissions Decision: The admissions decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic. Test scores must be dated within two years of submitting your application
- TOEFL minimum score is a 250 for a computer based test, 600 for a paper based test and 79 for the Internet based test.
- IELTS minimum score is 6.5 overall with no individual sub-score below 6.0.
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall with no individual sub-score below 50.
- Financial documentation – International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement translated into U.S. dollars
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application, and must be dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
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University Computing Standards
You are required to have daily access to a reliable broadband connection and a computer that meets university computing standards. You are also expected to have basic computer competency before beginning your coursework.
