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How do I Become a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant?

D. Jeffress
D. Jeffress

Vocational rehabilitation consultants work for government agencies, private counseling centers, and nonprofit groups to help people with disabilities find and maintain jobs. Consultants typically focus on administrative duties, such as developing new programs and policies based on the needs of clients. A person who wants to become a vocational rehabilitation consultant is usually required to obtain a college degree in social work or rehabilitation counseling. Most consultants begin their careers as counselors and advance within companies and agencies after gaining several years of experience.

A person who believes that he or she wants to become a vocational rehabilitation consultant should consider the traits and skills needed in the job to make sure it is a good fit. Consultants spend some of their time working directly with clients, though the majority of job duties involves office and computer work. A professional researches statistics about rehabilitation center policies and job placement programs to determine the success of an agency's initiatives. When there is room for improvement, the consultant relies on his or her creativity, communication, and leaderships skills to write and implement new policy guidelines.

Consultants should be experienced and experts in their field.
Consultants should be experienced and experts in their field.

A bachelor's degree is usually the minimum educational requirement to become a vocational rehabilitation consultant. Most employers, however, require professionals to hold master's degrees. An undergraduate can prepare for his or her future career by majoring in social work, psychology, counseling, or human services. In school, a student has the opportunity to learn about contemporary issues in human service work and rehabilitation counseling. Taking courses in business administration and computer science are also important to provide a student with technical skills.

Vocational rehabilitation consultants have to understand the limitations a person might have due to their disability.
Vocational rehabilitation consultants have to understand the limitations a person might have due to their disability.

Those who choose to continue their education usually pursue master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling to gain a more detailed understanding of the struggles and issues surrounding disabled workers. Many graduate schools allow students to pursue internships while working toward their degrees to gain practical experience in the field. An intern has the opportunity to observe and assist experienced counselors and consultants in their work.

Individuals who were injured while working may require vocational rehabilitation.
Individuals who were injured while working may require vocational rehabilitation.

After earning a degree, a person who wants to become a vocational rehabilitation consultant can apply for entry-level positions at government agencies and private companies. Some future consultants take human resources or administrative assistant jobs, but most professionals choose to become counselors. Rehabilitation counselors work directly with clients to help them identify and overcome their problems, obtain vocational training, and find appropriate jobs.

An aspiring vocational rehabilitation consultant may benefit from majoring in counseling.
An aspiring vocational rehabilitation consultant may benefit from majoring in counseling.

Previous experience dealing with clients is very important for a person who wants to become a vocational rehabilitation consultant. Firsthand knowledge of the challenges that clients face helps a professional make the best administrative decisions. After working as a counselor for several years and gaining respect in the field, an individual usually has a good chance of being promoted to a consulting position.

Discussion Comments

Raynbow

I have a friend who works as a vocational rehabilitation consultant, and he gets to work with people with a variety of problems to help them find the right career path. He loves to communicate with people, and he loves a challenge.

These two characteristics are vital to being successful in this field, because the job requires good communication skills and patience.

Heavanet

Anyone who enjoys helping people and is good at recognizing how to match skills to jobs would enjoy this type of work. The best way to know for sure though is to do some job shadowing with a vocational rehabilitation counselor. He or she will be able to advise anyone wanting to go into the field about job duties and the types of consultant positions available.

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    • Consultants should be experienced and experts in their field.
      By: paylessimages
      Consultants should be experienced and experts in their field.
    • Vocational rehabilitation consultants have to understand the limitations a person might have due to their disability.
      By: Conny Hagen
      Vocational rehabilitation consultants have to understand the limitations a person might have due to their disability.
    • Individuals who were injured while working may require vocational rehabilitation.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Individuals who were injured while working may require vocational rehabilitation.
    • An aspiring vocational rehabilitation consultant may benefit from majoring in counseling.
      By: bst2012
      An aspiring vocational rehabilitation consultant may benefit from majoring in counseling.
    • Vocational rehabilitation consultants may counsel patients struggling with other issues, such as alcoholism.
      By: beeboys
      Vocational rehabilitation consultants may counsel patients struggling with other issues, such as alcoholism.
    • Some rehabilitation consultants might work with someone who is injured as well as their spouse so the couple can take on the challenge as a team.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Some rehabilitation consultants might work with someone who is injured as well as their spouse so the couple can take on the challenge as a team.