The Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling prepares students to assist individuals with psychiatric, developmental, cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities to achieve their maximum level of independence, integration, and inclusion into employment and the community. The certificate program is open to applicants who already possess a Masters or Doctoral degree in a related field of study, and desire to obtain certification in rehabilitation counseling through Category 3 eligibility requirements set forth by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.  

The applicant must have a degree in counseling or a closely-related field from an accredited university program that meets the academic and clinical requirements for certification from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification (CRCC), and submit the following to Graduate Admissions. Applications are accepted for the Fall semester only:

• Applicants can apply to the program through NEIU’s online application system (https://apply.neiu.edu/apply/) with $30 application fee
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended 
• Two recommenders (applicants will be prompted to enter contact information for two professional recommenders)
• Current resume
• Signed Informed Consent
• An Essay (500-700 words or less), typed and double-spaced (instructions provided in the application).
• Successful completion of prior graduate coursework in the following areas: counseling theories and techniques, research methods, and individual and group counseling. Applicants who have not successfully completed the required coursework may fulfill them during the course of their studies toward the certificate in rehabilitation counseling.

Career Development Path

Master’s-Level Professionals: Complete a targeted selection of rehabilitation courses to build specialized knowledge or fulfill agency requirements without the constraints of CRCC Category 3 requirements.

Bachelor’s-Level Professionals: Access specific graduate-level coursework required for professional development in your current role. These courses can serve as standalone continuous education or as a stepping stone for those who later decide to pursue the full Master’s program.

Admissions: Unlike the traditional certificate track, this pathway requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, alongside the standard graduate application as a student-at-large, official transcripts, and a current resume. To ensure this track serves its intended audience, applicants must also provide proof of current employment in the rehabilitation field, which can be satisfied by a letter of recommendation or support from a current agency supervisor --contact the Counseling Department at 773-442-5550.

The courses required to complete the 27-credit hour Certificate in the Rehabilitation Counseling program are listed below. All are graduate level courses offered via remote instruction: