Career Essay on Rehabilitation Counselor

Rehabilitation Counselor According to the American Medical Association, an estimated 43 million Americans have physical, mental, or psychological disabilities that restrict their everyday lives and prevent them from obtaining or maintaining jobs (Burns). Rehabilitation counselors recognize this and are paid to fix these problems every day. Before becoming a rehabilitation counselor they must gain specific job skills and requirements needed for the job. A rehabilitation counselor’s job effects people every day and without the hard work they do, a myriad of people would be suffering daily. Rehabilitation counselors have education and work requirements that must be met before a person can get a job or start working with disabled clients. Throughout high school and college an aspiring rehabilitation counselor is required to take psychology, sociology, chemistry, and biology courses. Psychology and sociology are the most important when learning about rehabilitation counseling because the job requires a person to know how people act, understand their emotions and how their brain is thinking and processing everything. Chemistry and biology are also used to test patients on their progress and assist with developing a plan to slowly help them. Most job opportunities for rehabilitation counselors require a graduate level master’s degree. Some employers hire workers with a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and disability studies but, these workers usually cannot offer the full range of services that a rehabilitation counselor with a master’s degree can provide (How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor). Work experience for rehabilitation counselors is not required for entry level positions but volunteering at a hospital can be helpful and is usually recommended. In addition to going to school to receive a degree, a rehabilitation counselor will also be required to have a license or certification in the field. The regulation of counselors is required in 49 states,

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