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The differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors and licensed professional counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a vocational rehabilitation counselor, becoming a licensed professional counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor has an average salary of $94,675, which is higher than the $45,871 average annual salary of a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
The top three skills for a vocational rehabilitation counselor include rehabilitation, substance abuse and transferable. The most important skills for a licensed professional counselor are patients, social work, and LPC.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,871 | $94,675 |
| Hourly rate | $22.05 | $45.52 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 78,174 | 153,612 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Master's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
The primary role of a vocational rehabilitation counselor is to help disabled people to live fully and independently. Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities in securing employment. They provide health care to those who are coping with mental illness, substance abuse issues, psychological disorders, or physical disabilities. Knowledge of patient care, health management, rehabilitation program, and clinical psychology is a must for this job.
A licensed professional counselor is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional and mental health issues. They listen to their patients and utilize various techniques to address concerns and help through the healing procedures. Their duties entail conducting interviews and evaluations, performing research and assessments, studying the patients' medical histories, providing consultations, and developing treatment plans that suit every patients' needs. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor monitors and records their patients' progress, adjusting treatments and medications as necessary.
Vocational rehabilitation counselors and licensed professional counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,871 | $94,675 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $73,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Williston, ND | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | New York State Restaurant Association | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a licensed professional counselor in terms of educational background:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Master's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors' and licensed professional counselors' demographics:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 15% |