Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become a rehabilitation aide. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in a rehabilitation aide.

  • Most companies require a rehabilitation aide to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as kinesiology or psychology.

  • Common job titles before becoming a rehabilitation aide include certified nursing assistant, cashier, and internship.

  • Hiring managers expect a rehabilitation aide to have soft skills such as dexterity, physical stamina, and compassion.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become a rehabilitation aide.

  • Getting a certification as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) will help you to earn more as a rehabilitation aide.

How to become a Rehabilitation Aide in 6 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore rehabilitation aide education
  • Step 2: Develop rehabilitation aide skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Get rehabilitation aide certifications
  • Step 5: Research rehabilitation aide duties
  • Step 6: Prepare your resume
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Key Steps To Become a Rehabilitation Aide

  1. Explore Rehabilitation Aide Education

    If you're interested in becoming a rehabilitation aide, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 60.2% of rehabilitation aides have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.3% of rehabilitation aides have master's degrees. Even though most rehabilitation aides have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a rehabilitation aide. When we researched the most common majors for a rehabilitation aide, we found that they most commonly have kinesiology, psychology and biology.

    Rehabilitation Aide Degrees

    Bachelors

    60.2 %

    Associate

    14.7 %

    High School Diploma

    10.9 %

    Rehabilitation Aide MajorPercentages
    Kinesiology27.60%
    Psychology10.90%
    Biology7.60%
    Physical Therapy6.40%
    Other Degrees47.40%

  2. Develop Rehabilitation Aide Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop rehabilitation aide skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in rehabilitation aide job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients33.62%
    Rehabilitation17.65%
    CPR6.44%
    Direct Supervision5.14%
    Cleanliness4.50%

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Rehabilitation aides spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new rehabilitation aides learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a rehabilitation aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real rehabilitation aide resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

  4. Get Rehabilitation Aide Certifications

    Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for rehabilitation aides. The most common certification is Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), but Advanced First Aid & CPR is also frequently seen in rehabilitation aides resumes.

    1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
    2. Advanced First Aid & CPR
    3. Medical Assistant
    4. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
    5. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor
    6. First Aid Certification
    7. Patient Care Technician
    8. Medication Aide Certification (MACE)

    More About Certifications

  5. Research Rehabilitation Aide Duties

    When you decide to become a rehabilitation aide, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most rehabilitation aide jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Manage inventory of supplies and splints for the department.
    • Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
    • Help patients who used wheelchairs and walkers.
    • Assist patients with ADL's, collect lab specimens, perform EKG's, occasionally perform duty as a patient sitter.
    • Assist physical therapists and occupational hand therapist in implementing rehabilitation programs for patients in an outpatient orthopedics and hand therapy clinic.
    • Assist OTR/L in patient education and DME distribution at SNF

  6. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Rehabilitation Aide Resume templates

    Build a professional Rehabilitation Aide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Rehabilitation Aide resume.

    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
    Rehabilitation Aide Resume
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    Rehabilitation Aide Resume

  7. Apply For a Rehabilitation Aide Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Rehabilitation Aide Jobs

  8. How To Become a Rehabilitation Aide
    How To Become a Rehabilitation Aide Career Overview