Rehabilitation Counseling, AC

Embark on a rewarding career path that will make a meaningful impact on people overcoming personal, social, educational, emotional and professional transition challenges.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in May 2024 to join President Satish K. Tripathi for a comprehensive discussion about mental health resources for students. Speaking is Amanda Nickerson, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology; Director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

Empower Lives

This is one of the oldest and most esteemed rehabilitation counseling programs in the nation, providing top-tier education and resources for success. You'll enjoy exciting career opportunities in a rapidly growing field with high pay and benefits.

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The Value of an Advanced Certificate

In today’s dynamic professional environment, continuous self-improvement is essential for career success. Advancements, competition and evolving landscapes require professionals to maintain current, industry-relevant knowledge, skills and competencies. Advanced certificates can complement completed degrees or serve as standalone credentials. Regardless of your chosen path, an advanced certificate offers additional knowledge and opportunities to refine professional skills, facilitating career advancement. They offer a flexible, accessible and cost-effective educational route to pursue career goals and remain competitive.

Points of Distinction

The program meets the educational criteria for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam, adhering to the latest industry standards and preparing students for successful certification.

Buffalo Out of the Darkness Community Walk took place at around the Ellicott Complex on North Campus in April 2024. The walk raised money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and was organized by members of UB Student Wellness. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

Rehabilitation counselors enjoy the highest pay and better benefits in the counseling domain, as recognized by the American Counseling Association.

Courses are approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) and CACREP, ensuring quality education.

Program Summary

Academic credential granted	Advanced Certificate (AC)
Credits required for completion	15 to 24
Time to completion	3 to 4 part-time semesters
Course delivery	On campus or online
Certification	www.crccertification.com
Application deadline	Priority Deadlines Spring: Nov. 1, then rolling until Jan. 10 Fall: April 1, then rolling until Aug. 10

Every student develops an individualized coursework plan with a faculty advisor to meet specific academic eligibility requirements for the CRC exam within Category 3 as set by the CRCC. (Category 3 eligible academic fields include, but are not limited to: 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 previously completed a course in one or more of the required eligibility areas, you may be eligible to streamline the program and only take the courses you need to fill the gaps, according to the CRCC guidelines.

Sample coursework includes:

Professional Orientation
Ethics in Rehabilitation Counseling
Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
Assessment
Research, Methodology and Performance Management
Career Development Theories
Job Development and Placement Techniques
Case Management and Community Partnerships
Theories and Techniques of Counseling

See additional requirements in the CRC Certification Guide at crccertification.com/get-certified.

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 or supervised internship as determined by the CRCC, based on your eligibility category

NOTE: The national designation of the CRC credential does not qualify as a license to provide mental health counseling services in New York, whereas some other states may use the CRC credential as such. If you are interested in mental health counseling and live in New York, please visit our mental health counseling program information. If you live outside New York State, check with your state licensing board.

Our program is open to anyone holding a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field of study.

Submit your completed online application, which includes:

Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
Academic transcripts: Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, including the English translation, if applicable. (A minimum of a master’s degree in a CRCC-approved related field is required.)
CRCC Category 3 eligibility: If you are seeking CRC Category 3 eligibility, include evidence of earning an advanced degree in a related field of study (such as, but not limited to: 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). Additionally, applicants should go through the new CRCC Category 3 "Pre-Review" process prior to application to the Advanced Certificate Program to ensure eligibility and to clarify coursework needs.
A personal statement outlining your personal and/or professional goals for wanting to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, or other reasons for wanting to earn the advanced certificate.

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.

In-State Residency Tuition

In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.

If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.

International Applicant Additional Requirements

Official original proof of your degree
A copy of your passport biographical page
Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
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

All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.

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