Gain additional certification and licensing to serve the mental health and vocational needs of individuals with a range of disabilities.
Modality
Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate Program Overview
The Rehabilitation Counseling post-master's certificate adds to your credentials through national certification and state licensure as a rehabilitation counselor. Through the Cambridge College program, you can pursue these credentials:
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
- Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor by the Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals
The program and coursework for the Rehabilitation Counseling certificate are all online and accessible through our award-winning, interactive, online platform.
Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate Program Highlights
A focus on rehabilitation counseling helps practitioners more comprehensively serve the mental health and vocational needs of individuals with the following challenges:
- Cognitive
- Developmental
- Psychological
- Medical
- Intellectual
- Physical
The goal is to help them seek employment, maintain employment or return to work. These individuals include veterans who face mental health and rehabilitation complications, as well as a host of other issues relating to the interface of disabilities and mental health.
In 2021, Cambridge College's mental health counseling certificates were ranked as #1 in New England for Best Quality, #2 in New England for Best Value and #25 in the U.S. for Best Value by Healthcare Degree Search (HDS). This organization specializes in promoting healthcare careers and ranks programs on outcome-based factors, based on data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate Tuition Information
*See curriculum sheet for a breakdown of credits and credit ranges.
Course List
The post-master's Rehabilitation Counseling certificate program at Cambridge College features courses such as:
- Vocational and Affective Counseling
- Rehabilitation Plan Development
- Trauma Specific Interventions
- Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability
- Rehabilitation Plan Development
Prospective graduate degree students for programs in the School of Education & Counseling must satisfy the following requirements plus any program-specific requirements your program may have.
- Complete and sign the online application.
- Pay the application fee. Pay your $50 ($100 for international students) application fee by the term start date.
- Send official transcripts. Maildirectly to Cambridge College in a sealed, unopened envelope. Learn How to Send Transcripts. Required degrees must be from accredited colleges or universities.
- Master's and most graduate certificate programs require an earned bachelor's degree.
- Post-master's certificates and CAGS require an earned master's degree.
- International transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an approved agency. See all international student requirements
- Send your résumé and work experience. Send your resume that details your education and work experience, including how they pertain to your career goals. If your SEC program has a work experience requirement, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Submit your personal statement. Write a 500-word, typed, double-spaced essay describing your professional experience, goals and objectives for graduate study. How do you expect your graduate studies to enhance your future career?
- Include two professional recommendations (not required for fully online programs). These should address your professional character and ability to perform graduate work. Download Applicant Recommendation Form
- Interview (required for some programs). If your program requires an interview, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Satisfy Health Insurance & Immunization requirements. (Massachusetts only). These are required only for graduate students taking six or more credits per term in Massachusetts through on-campus or hybrid classes. Health insurance may be waived.
Teacher Licensure Program Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above, our Teacher Licensure Programs have these additional requirements:
- Earned bachelor's degree with 3.0 or higher GPA.
- MA Educator Documentation from the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website. Keep copies of all documents submitted and, upon admission, post in your electronic portfolio:
- Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID number)
- MTEL Communication & Literacy Test, successfully completed.
Required if completed:
- Massachusetts preliminary license, if held
- Sheltered English Instruction requirement
- Fingerprinting and Criminal Offender Record Information
Applicants who do not initially meet all requirements (e.g. GPA of 3.0 or MTEL) for admission into their chosen licensure program must enroll in the corresponding non-licensure degree option. Students who achieve a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the first three SEC courses, pass the MTELs, and now meet all requirements, may request a change of program.
Disclosures: For all Licensure Programs
- Licensure requirements are subject to change per Massachusetts regulations. All Cambridge College licensure programs are based on current regulations.
- All candidates admitted for licensure programs must successfully complete the program in its entirety.
- All requirements at the time of program completion must be finalized prior to seeking Massachusetts endorsement for licensure purposes.
- If you have any licensure questions, please speak to your program chair.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
A 60-credit master's degree or higher degree in mental health counseling, marriage & family therapy, social work or psychology is required.
Careers in Rehabilitation Counseling
Graduates will be qualified to pursue national certification and state licensure as rehabilitation counselors or clinical rehabilitation counselors. Candidates must also pass an exam and have had 36 months of acceptable employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Boston and Cambridge have some of the highest levels of employment for rehabilitation counselors. A rehabilitation counselor in this area makes an annual mean wage of $56,050. Nationally, rehabilitation counselors earn an average salary of $46,020.*
$56,050
Annual mean salary for rehabilitation counselors in Boston*
$46,020
Annual mean salary for rehabilitation counselors in the U.S.*
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022, 21-1015 Rehabilitation Counselors, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211015.htm (visited December 27, 2023).
Rehabilitation Counseling Jobs
Rehabilitation counselors typically work in settings such as:
- Mental health agencies
- The Veterans Administration
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Insurance companies dealing with disability
- Nonprofit agencies
- Employee assistance programs
- Disability management firms
- Consulting agencies