How to hire a certified rehabilitation counselor

How to hire a certified rehabilitation counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified rehabilitation counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a certified rehabilitation counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified rehabilitation counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The certified rehabilitation counselor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A certified rehabilitation counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, certified rehabilitation counselors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of certified rehabilitation counselor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Certified Rehabilitation Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.	$15-26
   Counselor Internship	When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show more	$14-31
   Counselor	Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being... Show more	$9-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • CRC
   • Behavioral Health
   • Vocational Assessments
   • Vocational Rehabilitation
   • Assess Client
   • Community Resources
   • Community Organizations
   • Counsel Individuals
   • Eligibility Determination
   • Substance Abuse
   • Support Services

   Responsibilities:

   • Collaborate with institutions of higher learning and local organizations to help assign veterans achieve independent living and academic success.
   • Authorize and coordinate rehabilitation services and developing work plans, providing vocational counseling rehabilitative assessment and placement of individuals with disabilities.
   • Complete referral application using rehabilitation technology.
   • Complete referral application using rehabilitation technology.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified rehabilitation counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A certified rehabilitation counselor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, certified rehabilitation counselors' average salary in oklahoma is 48% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified rehabilitation counselors 42% less than senior-level certified rehabilitation counselors.
   • Certifications. A certified rehabilitation counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a certified rehabilitation counselor's salary.

   Average certified rehabilitation counselor salary

   $42,200yearly

   $20.29 hourly rate

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   Entry-level certified rehabilitation counselor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a certified rehabilitation counselor job description

   A job description for a certified rehabilitation counselor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a certified rehabilitation counselor job description:

   Certified rehabilitation counselor job description example

   Are you looking for a career where you'll make an Impact?
   
   Do you want to work with an organization that truly cares about people? Here's your chance!
   
   We are hiring a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in our Waterloo office!
   
   Now offering a $1500 sign on bonus and $1500 retention bonus!!
   
   Resources for Human Development (RHD) - one of the Nation's leading support services organizations - is seeking a focused individual to fill the role of an Addiction Counselor.
   
   How You'll Make an Impact
   
   The function of the Addiction Counselor is to provide integrated mental health and substance abuse services to consumers with co-occurring disorders. The addiction Counselor's job responsibilities include assessment, use of stage-wise interventions, provision of substance abuse group, implementation of harm reduction techniques, and treatment planning. The incumbent in this position is a mobile clinician and expected to deliver services to individuals through the service territory as scheduled. The position will also support the operations of the program on a rotating on-call, evening and weekend schedule if needed.
   
   What We Offer You:
   
   Commitment to maintaining a values-based and trauma-informed environment for all
   
   Employee Wellness Program
   
   On-the-job training
   
   Comprehensive healthcare coverage including medical, eye, and dental for qualifying staff
   
   Retirement savings plan for qualifying staff
   
   Generous paid time off for qualifying staff
   
   Employee Assistance Program
   
   Discounted Tuition with College & University Partnerships
   
   What You'll Love About RHD:
   
   Commitment to Values: We are committed to the fundamental value of dignity and respect for all human beings, to the empowerment of our consumers and staff, and to the flexibility to meet the changing needs of all our partners and those we serve.
   
   Dedication to Wellness: We value and prioritize our employees' mental, physical, and emotional health by providing free, online fitness classes, nutrition services, counseling sessions, and webinars on various health-related topics
   
   Investment in Growth: We offer programs and workshops to our staff that support furthering education and the development of leadership skills
   
   Responsibilities/Duties
   
   Provide community based services at times and locations convenient to clients.
   
   Utilize Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and stages of change techniques.
   
   Assist with medication monitoring of self-administration and medication management.
   
   Provide assertive outreach when necessary to engage clients.
   
   Provide on-call, after-hour support to clients as scheduled.
   
   Provide clinical treatment for mental health and substance abuse/dependence, incorporating recovery-based, client-centered treatment approaches and harm reduction strategies.
   
   Utilize evidence-based interventions and therapeutic techniques to address consumer's mental health symptoms and coping skills.
   
   Develop treatment plans, early intervention plans, and recovery action plans with clients.
   
   Provide direct assistance with family of clients in areas such as in-home family education and relationship building.
   
   Actively participate in the engagement of new clients into the ACT program many of whom are transitioning from a residential, or inpatient acute level of care.
   
   Required Experience
   
   A minimum of two years of experience working with individuals with co-occurring disorders. Required Education
   
   Bachelor's degree in a Human Service field Required Qualifications
   
   CADC Certification
   
   The ability to make ethical clinical decisions in demanding situations
   
   The ability to interact professionally with clients, their families and other professionals
   
   Organizational skills; ability to complete documentation timely and accurately
   
   Valid Iowa Drivers License
   
   Program Summary
   
   Assertive Community Treatment is a multi-faceted team approach to assisting clients with persistent and severe mental health diagnosis to live in the community. The team consists of housing, vocational, substance use, therapy, medication management and community resource help. We are mission driven to help people improve the quality of their lives.
   
   Resources for HumanDevelopment is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants willreceive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age,religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, veteran, or disability status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right certified rehabilitation counselor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with certified rehabilitation counselors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit certified rehabilitation counselors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your certified rehabilitation counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit certified rehabilitation counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting certified rehabilitation counselors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new certified rehabilitation counselor

   Once you've decided on a perfect certified rehabilitation counselor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new certified rehabilitation counselor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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