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The Certificate in Disability and Rehabilitation Services is designed for individuals with bachelor’s degrees who seek foundational skills for working effectively with people with disabilities in vocational rehabilitation and community‑based disability services. Many entering these roles have limited formal preparation in disability‑specific counseling, yet the demand for competent practitioners continues to grow. The certificate addresses that gap by equipping learners with essential knowledge in disability identity, counseling theory and evidence‑based practice. It is intentionally structured for early‑career professionals, new hires in disability service agencies and individuals seeking to enter the field with a strong, practice‑ready foundation.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:
- Apply foundational counseling theories to support individuals with disabilities in vocational and community-based settings using person-centered, culturally responsive approaches
- Demonstrate knowledge of medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, including their impact on employment, independent living, and community participation
- Students will be able to demonstrate counseling microskills, including attending, reflecting, questioning, goal‑setting, and intervention planning.
- Students will be able to apply professional ethics to complex, real‑world counseling scenarios, demonstrating the ability to identify ethical issues, analyze competing obligations, and justify sound, defensible decisions that protect client welfare, autonomy, and professional integrity.
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | All semesters | None |
The Certificate in Disability and Rehabilitation Services program is open to qualified students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or the equivalent and who have met all general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.
Degree requirements
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students in the Certificate in Disability and Rehabilitation Services program must complete 12 credit hours of course work.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| RHAB 525 | Introduction to Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| RHAB 611 | Theories of Professional Counseling | 3 |
| RHAB 640 | Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities | 3 |
| RHAB 691 | Counseling Techniques | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 12.
Contact
Kaitlyn Pascuzzi
Program coordinator, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling
rehabcnsling@vcu.edu
Website: rehab.chp.vcu.edu/programs/