Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

CACREP accredited until March 31, 2032.

The Master of Education in Counselor Education with a specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is an interdisciplinary field of study specifically designed to train professional clinical rehabilitation counselors to work for and with persons with disabilities in both the public and private sectors. It prepares individuals for professional leadership, administration, direct service, private practice and forensic practice.

The clinical rehabilitation counseling program at Florida Atlantic University regularly informs the public of its performance, including enrollment, graduation, accreditation status, and student achievement scores (the number passing the CRC exam) through semester newsletters, reports to academic officials and a web group formed for FAU alumni. In recent years (2012-2017), there have been 26 graduates. On average, students complete the clinical rehabilitation counseling program and the classes needed to be eligible for licensure in the state of Florida in 8 semesters or about 2 ½ - 3 years. Many students receive free tuition through work for the state or federal rehabilitation programs, and many scholarships are available and can be found by asking the department coordinator.

All graduates in the past three years have been employed in the clinical rehabilitation/clinical mental health field within six months of graduation. The majority of graduates are working in the field before they graduate, securing employment through the help of the program and field placement sites. Graduates work in the public and private sector, including state vocational rehabilitation, the Division of Blind Services, the Veterans Administration and private practice. Students in the program are required to take the CRC exam as a part of the program requirements. The clinical rehabilitation program was one of the first programs at FAU to require an evidence-based national exam as a part of graduation requirements.

Preparing for Your New Career

The Master of Education in Counselor Education with a specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling combines academic instruction with clinical and experiential learning. The program is designed to give students the competencies to provide a wide range of services and apply a variety of clinical modalities to assist persons with disabilities.

Graduates of this program may pursue positions as counselors, administrators, independent consultants, and case managers in a variety of organizations and settings, such as state rehabilitation agencies, private independent practice, rehabilitation hospitals, forensic practice, insurance-based systems such as workers' compensation, and private industry.

In each of these settings, clinical rehabilitation counselors are instrumental in service provision, personal & family counseling, and advocacy.

Clinical rehabilitation counselors become eligible to apply for several credentials as a result of successful completion of the FAU training course. Graduates are eligible for national certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). In addition, graduates will also be eligible for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida. Further national certifications may also include Certificated Disability Management Specialist (CDMS), and Certified Case Manager (CCM).

Program Overview

Consult the FAU Course Catalog for course descriptions and other details.

Required Courses for Full Time Student

Core Courses:
MHS 5005 Processes in Counseling
MHS 5428 Multicultural Counseling for Diverse Populations
MHS 6220 Appraisal and Evaluation in Counseling
MHS 6340 Career Development
MHS 6401 Counseling Theories and Techniques
MHS 6430 Family Counseling
MHS 6482 Lifespan Development
MHS 6510 Group Counseling
MHS 6700 Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Counseling
MHS 6710 Counseling Research and Evidence-based Practice
STA 6113 Statistics

CRC Specialty Courses:
MHS 6070 Psychopathology
MHS 6450 Substance Abuse Counseling
MHS 6470 Counseling and Human Sexuality
RCS 6031 Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling
RCS 6080 Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
RCS 6320 Occupational Information and Job Placement
RCS 6644 Case Management and Vocational Rehabilitation
RCS 6801 Rehabilitation Counseling Practicum
RCS 6825 Rehabilitation Counseling Internship

** Internship may be taken over two semesters for 3 credits each semester (300 clock hours of field placement per semester) or in one semester (600 clock hours of field placement).

All courses are 3 credit hours (please see the note above regarding Internship).

Note: A maximum of eighteen credit hours of course work taken in the Department of Counselor Education at Florida Atlantic University prior to admission may be approved toward program requirements.

How to Apply

Admission Process and Requirements:

Application Deadline for Clinical Rehabilitation track: Sept. 15 for Spring Admission; January 15 for Fall admission.