On Being a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
On March 26, we celebrated National Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Day—a perfect time for me to reflect on my four-plus decades in the field. As I thought about my career and the many roles I’ve held, I kept coming back to one of the most important decisions I made early on: becoming a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
I began working with people with disabilities in December 1977, before I had earned my bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Like many in our field, I didn’t start out knowing that rehabilitation counseling would become my lifelong career. But even in those early years, something resonated with me about this work—the opportunity to partner with people with disabilities as they pursued employment, independence, and quality of life.
Reflections on Becoming a CRC
An early defining moment in my early career was learning about the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential. At the time, I was a member of the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) and the National Rehabilitation Counselor’s Association (NRCA). I regularly read articles in their publications discussing the CRC and what it represented. It was clear to me that this credential wasn’t just a piece of paper—it was a statement of identity and professional commitment.
However, the most efficient path to becoming a CRC—a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling—was not available to me. There were no rehabilitation counseling graduate programs in the area where I lived, and I was already working full time in the profession. Fortunately, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) offered an alternative pathway. They accepted my coursework and professional experience. This meant I could sit for the certification exam, but there was one more hurdle: because I had not been supervised by a CRC, I had to pursue alternative supervision.
I had been supervised by psychologists and social workers, but CRCC required CRC-specific supervision. They offered provisional certification, meaning I had to find a CRC who could provide external supervision for six months after I passed the exam. I remember the anxiety of taking the eight-hour exam and then waiting over six weeks to receive my results in the mail. When I finally received my passing results, I immediately began the next step. I met with my CRC supervisor in the evenings and on weekends to complete the required supervision and transition from provisional status (CRC/P) to full certification.
Why the CRC Still Matters
All of this leads to the question: why did it matter then, and why does it still matter today? Why should becoming a CRC matter to every vocational rehabilitation counselor?
In today’s professional landscape, where many counselors are pursuing licensure over certification, it’s a fair question. Why is holding and retaining a CRC still important? For me, the answer is clear. The CRC is the standard of practice for rehabilitation counselors. It is a credential that reflects a specific body of knowledge and a commitment to serving people with disabilities in ways that recognize the intersection of employment, counseling, disability, and advocacy.
The Gold Standard of Practice
The CRCC website describes the CRC as “the gold standard delivering the highest quality rehabilitation counseling services.” It also states that earning and retaining the CRC certification demonstrates “your commitment to yourself and, most importantly, the clients you serve.” It further emphasizes that “CRCs are the highly sought-after rehabilitation counseling experts. They possess insights and dedication to achieve successful rehabilitation outcomes and offer a dynamic level of focus to serve individuals in need of rehabilitation services addressing personal, social, and vocational goals.” For those seeking to grow in their careers, the CRCC highlights that certification can open doors to coveted employment opportunities, faster career advancement, and greater earning potential.
A Professional Identity
For me, the CRC credential is about more than job opportunities or professional advancement—it’s about professional identity. I am a rehabilitation counselor. Why would I not hold the credential that represents my field and my practice? Throughout my career, whether I was serving as a practicing counselor, a state vocational rehabilitation administrator, a professor, or now in a private sector role, I’ve always believed I am obligated to represent the standard of practice for my profession. For me, that standard is the CRC.
I had the honor of serving on the CRCC Board of Directors for six years. During that time, I chaired the Standards Committee and served on the Exam and Research Committee. I also served on the board of the Council on Rehabilitation Education. These experiences strengthened my belief in certification and the critical role it plays in ensuring competent, ethical, and effective practice.
Rehabilitation counselors bring a unique set of skills and knowledge to the table. Our expertise spans employment and career counseling, clinical counseling, case management, medical aspects of disability, and much more. We serve people who are often underserved or not well served by professionals without this knowledge base. The CRC credential is evidence of this unique knowledge and skill set. Licensure may allow rehabilitation counselors to practice in mental health and addictions settings, but it does not reflect the specific competencies and professional identity of a rehabilitation counselor. The CRC does.
A Colleague’s Perspective on Certification
A friend and colleague, Dr. Susan Sherman, former NRA President and past President of the CRCC Board of Directors, has written and spoken about the significance of certification. She has argued that the CRC represents the minimum level of competency for rehabilitation counselors. Dr. Sherman believes it should be the minimum standard for hiring, for faculty teaching in rehabilitation counseling programs, and for leaders in the field. On a recent CRCC podcast, she said, “Being a rehabilitation counselor is at my core—it is who I am.” She also emphasized the importance of CRCC’s ongoing role and function studies to ensure that the certification reflects minimum competency standards. At the heart of this is one simple truth: people with disabilities deserve highly qualified professionals serving them. I agree with Dr. Sherman, not only about competency, but about identity. Being a rehabilitation counselor is at my core as well.
Expanding the Role of the CRC
About four years ago, I moved into a new and somewhat unexpected role. I became a Strategic Account Manager for Alliance Enterprises, a software company that specializes in case management systems for vocational rehabilitation agencies, American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Programs, and community rehabilitation programs. You might wonder why a rehabilitation counselor—a CRC—would step into the world of software and technology. The answer is simple: the company values and seeks the expertise of rehabilitation counseling professionals.
Alliance Enterprises recognized the importance of having vocational rehabilitation experts involved in the development and support of vocational case management software. They wanted people who could ask the right questions, understand how software impacts practice, and advocate for the needs of counselors and consumers. I’m honored to play a role in that process. It’s a reminder that the skills and knowledge of a rehabilitation counselor are valuable not only in direct service roles, but in systems development, policy, education, and beyond.
Celebrating Our Profession and Standards
It is an exciting time to celebrate National Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Day. It is also an important time to recommit to what it means to be a CRC. The opportunities for rehabilitation counselors to make an impact are broader than ever—whether working in state vocational rehabilitation agencies, public schools, community rehabilitation programs, veteran’s services, private practice, mental health or medical settings, or, yes, even in a software company dedicated to supporting vocational rehabilitation professionals.
Ultimately, the CRC is more than a credential. It is a reflection of who we are, what we know, and the standard of service we commit to every day. I encourage all rehabilitation counselors—whether just starting out or decades into their careers—to pursue and maintain their CRC. People with disabilities deserve nothing less than the best-qualified, most committed professionals our field has to offer.
