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The differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors and mental health practitioners 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 mental health practitioner takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health practitioner has an average salary of $50,628, 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 mental health practitioner are social work, patients, and mental health.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Yearly salary | $45,871 | $50,628 |
| Hourly rate | $22.05 | $24.34 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 78,174 | 140,365 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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.
Mental health practitioners are medical professionals who work with patients who have mental health issues such as schizophrenia, split personality disorder, and depression. These practitioners are required to develop and implement patient care plans for adults with severe mental disabilities while providing mental health services to attain improved mental health. They must make sure that patients did not spit out their medicines by observing post medication administration with the nurse. Mental health practitioners must also manage therapeutic activities that will teach patients about functional living skills.
Vocational rehabilitation counselors and mental health practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Average salary | $45,871 | $50,628 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $35,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Williston, ND | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | New York State Restaurant Association | Dignity Health |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a mental health practitioner in terms of educational background:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors' and mental health practitioners' demographics:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 24.1% Female, 75.9% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 15% |