A bachelor's degree in counseling qualifies a person to work as a counseling aide, rehabilitation aide, or social service worker. Experience in employment counseling, job development, psychology, education, or social work may be helpful. A minimum of 2 years of study including a period of supervised clinical experience are required for the master's degree. Some colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services education. In most State vocational rehabilitation agencies, applicants must pass a written examination and be evaluated by a board of examiners.
Many employers require rehabilitation counselors to be certified.
To become certified by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, counselors must graduate from an accredited educational program, complete an internship, and pass a written examination. They are then designated as Certified Rehabilitation Counselors. Mental health counselors generally have a master's degree in mental health counseling, another area of counseling, or in psychology or social work. They are voluntarily certified by the National Board of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Some employers provide training for newly hired counselors.