Format: Online
Length: 1 year, 4 terms
Credits: 30 credits
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling department at University of Western States recognizes the crucial role rehabilitation counselors play in empowering vulnerable populations to lead rich and fulfilling lives.
Our Rehabilitation Counseling Graduate Certificate program provides compassionate, dedicated, and licensed professional counselors with the knowledge and skills necessary to help individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions achieve independence, inclusion, and meaningful participation in all areas of life.
This rigorous 30-credit certificate program fulfills the initial academic requirements for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Students must apply for the CRC certification independent of this program.
Note: The CRC exam may require candidates to provide evidence of supervised clinical hours in a rehabilitation counseling setting. This graduate certificate program fulfills the education component only and assumes students are licensed professionals who have completed supervised clinical hours.
Curriculum
Learning Outcomes
- Apply rehabilitative counseling theories and policies to assessment and treatment planning.
- Demonstrate clinical competency with differently abled clients through interventions designed to help them secure employment, live independently or with assistance, and integrate into their community.
- Collaborate with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds to provide services that reflect the impact of the intersection of disability and culture.
- Demonstrate the rehabilitative counselor identity through ethical advocacy practices.
Admissions Requirements
Entry Terms: Fall (October), Spring (April), Summer (July)
Admission Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to submit their application and all supporting documents 60 days prior to their intended start date.
Eligible Candidates:
- Licensed professional counselors seeking rehabilitation counselor certification
- Current MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or EdD in Sport and Performance Psychology: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization students seeking rehabilitation counselor certification after graduation
Application Requirements:
- Must hold licensure as a professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, social worker, and/or psychologist
- Official transcripts showing successful completion of master’s degree with minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Current resume or CV
- Personal statement responding to provided prompt
- Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an academic reference
- Application fee
- Pass comprehensive criminal history background check
If you are unable to submit your application and materials by the final deadline, please contact the admissions office at [email protected] or 800-641-5641.