Students who wish to become a vocational rehab worker should enroll in a school that is accredited with the Council on Rehabilitation Education or CORE. A certification through their program requires passing an examination and is available through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), which an accredited school will have access to. Employers will require a graduate to be certified and graduating from an accredited program.
Practical, hands-on training is a necessity when taking courses in vocational rehabilitation. Many of the schools provide hands-on training with on-site vocational rehab centers, where a student can find work or simply intern for the experience. Several of the vocational rehab centers and schools are near Veterans Affairs hospitals; that was the original intent of the Voc Rehab Departments, to help returning soldiers, mostly disabled soldiers, find new jobs.
The majority of the degree programs for vocational rehabilitation counselors are in the master's degree level. Students may want to begin their training by taking courses in the psychology and sociology programs as undergraduates. These programs are often the baseline for a vocational rehabilitation degree. Students will need a lot of experience before graduating and that is why a school with a hands-on approach is the best choice. They should be paired with a supervising upper classman or teacher's assistant and will help a disabled individual locate a suitable job before the end of the semester.
A vocational rehabilitation technician could work under the supervision of a medical professional working with individuals with physical injuries or disabilities or mental illnesses. There are also those who need assistance when they are recovering from substance abuse or accidents and need long-term care.