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Rehabilitation Counselor

Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.

Annual openings

133

Median wage

$47,840

Typical education

A Master’s or Doctoral degree in Counseling from a CACREP-approved program or its equivalent is required.

Growth 2026–2032

+13%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

A Master’s or Doctoral degree in Counseling from a CACREP-approved program or its equivalent is required.

Credential requirement

If you provide counseling services, you will need to hold a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. A LPC must also pass Colorado’s Mental Health Professions Jurisprudence Exam, the National Counselor Exam and complete the required supervised work experience. Rehabilitation Counselors jobs that don't provide Counseling services aren't required to hold a need license, though they can pursue the voluntary certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) certification.

Work experience

To become a Rehabilitation Counselor, 2,000 hours of post-degree experience is required over a minimum of 24 months; to include 100 hours of supervision, 70 hours of which must be face-to-face individual supervision.

Employer competency information

Feedback from employers identifies the following critical competencies and how they apply for this job

  • Customer Focus — Focusing on and understanding the client is the foundation for this job; for instance, planning group counseling sessions to address the different needs of each patient and adjusting treatments based on an individual’s needs.
  • Psychology, Therapy and Counseling — The knowledge and ability to understand a patient’s behavior, identify possible causes, and develop appropriate treatments and interventions.
  • Communication — The ability to quickly and concisely summarize and articulate the most pertinent patient-related information.
  • Interpersonal Skills and Teamwork — Examples are understanding a patient’s culture/background and how it impacts the treatment and the ability to an effectively run a group consisting of diverse backgrounds. In addition, treatment in a hospital setting is always a team effort.
  • Critical & Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving & Decision Making — The ability to look at multiple aspects of a patient objectively and subjectively and assessing, implementing and adjusting treatments.
  • Integrity — Ethical behavior to protect your patients and maintain appropriate boundaries are two key aspects of this job.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Arrange for on-site job coaching or assistive devices, such as specially equipped wheelchairs, to help clients adapt to work or school environments.
  2. Confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals to develop and implement client rehabilitation programs.
  3. Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
  4. Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
  5. Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
  6. Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
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