Rehabilitation counseling is unique among the counseling disciplines because it was legislated into existence more than one hundred years ago. The passage of the Smith-Fess Act in 1920 established the federal-state vocational rehabilitation program and helped elevate rehabilitation counseling to a profession. The history of this profession is deeply rooted in federal-state services; however, we are aware that a growing need for CRCs is emerging across all job sectors. So, how can we, as a profession, continue to advocate for CRC job opportunities, given that they are often the best fit for many roles related to disability and counseling services?
All people with disabilities have the right to full lives in communities of their choosing where they can live, learn, work, and enjoy life. Certified Rehabilitation Counselors are the only professionals using a multifaceted approach designed to help individuals with disabilities integrate into their community and workplace, and to achieve their personal, social, psychological, and career goals.
With so many folks with disabilities standing to benefit from these services, we must continue to see more CRCs in the workforce. That’s why it’s vital to not only develop CRCs through master’s programs, but also to better define where CRCs can work. The answer is simple: wherever people with disabilities are working or want to work, a CRC should be there too.
Where are the best CRC Job Opportunities?
The CRC credential opens a world of professional opportunities for a certificant. CRCs report working in over 25 different practice settings, according to our latest Salary Survey. The majority typically provide direct services in state/federal agency, college or university, private practice, or for/non-profit rehabilitation center settings. The CRCs’ graduate-level, specialized preparation creates opportunities to work in these settings as well as to pursue self-employment and consulting work.
We recognize that CRCs also operate in emerging settings that require the disability expertise they provide. This includes for-profit businesses, insurance companies, and private practices, where CRCs can run their own businesses of services, connecting directly with both clients and employers. Many organizations, both for-profit and nonprofit, must manage employee relations programs related to workers’ compensation, disability insurance, and return-to-work processes. These are roles CRCs continue to pursue, bringing awareness to both sectors of how valuable CRCs are to an organization.
Other settings, like K-12 school systems or hospital settings, may employ CRCs as part of an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals. While CRCC continues to build awareness of the profession, these are just two examples of places we know CRCs do work, but could benefit from an increased rate of hiring of Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
Using the Scope of Practice and JTA to Find Roles
Bridging clinical mental health and vocational rehabilitation skills, CRCs address the whole person in their services. Articulating your skills on a resume or cover letter by reviewing the CRC Scope of Practice or latest Job Task Analysis can help to uncover roles you are fit to excel in but may not be specifically searching for a CRC.
A good example of this is that many roles will not list a job title as “Certified Rehabilitation Counselor,” but may be hiring for a professional who is well-versed in disability law, such as the ADA or Fair Labor Standards Act. Searching for these terms, you can find in the Scope of Practice or Job Task Analysis, can begin to show you how widespread the opportunities you have as a CRC can be.
Not to mention, standing out in a competitive job market is made easy with a national credential specific to counseling and disability services. As CRCC continues to develop resources to help make your job search more seamless, keep these practices in mind to help pave paths for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors in the workforce.
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