Rehabilitation Counseling Education (Ph.D.)

Students initiate doctoral study upon completion of a master's degree and typically at least one year of professional experience post-master's degree. The entry-level masters degree must have been obtained from a program accredited by CACREP, or the student must provide satisfactory evidence of coursework meeting CACREP standards prior to beginning the program. Students must have obtained certification as a rehabilitation counselor through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) before entering the program, and counseling licensure is also highly encouraged.

All applications are evaluated on the basis of such factors as GPA, GRE, recommendations, and the applicants professional statement. Admission criteria include:

• Academic aptitude for doctoral-level study
• Previous professional experience
• Fitness for the profession, including self-awareness and emotional stability
• Oral and written communication skills
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness
• Potential for scholarship, professional leadership, and advocacy

Finalists will be contacted for a personal interview. Applications are usually accepted for students to begin in the fall semester, and supporting documents must be uploaded into the application system by March 15.

Minimum requirements for admission include:

• Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling with at least one year of post-master's work experience in the field
• Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.0
• Minimum GRE: verbal 151 and quantitative 153
• Three letters of recommendation
• Professional statement
• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (transcripts must be uploaded into the application system)
• Personal interview

International students who fit into any of the following categories will be considered to have met the requirement:

• Residents of a country where English is the only official language and who is a native English speaker
• Graduates of U.S. high schools
• Completed the equivalent of Iowa State’s English 150 or 250 with a grade of B or better at an accredited U.S. 2 year or 4 year college or university.
  

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION

If you meet all admission requirements but do not meet our English proficiency requirements, Iowa State offers conditional admission to attend our Intensive English and Orientation Program (IEOP). If you would like to enroll in IEOP, on the application choose "I would like to enroll in Iowa State’s IEOP program before I begin the academic study.”

Graduates of the rehabilitation counseling education (RCE) program are positioned to obtain excellent jobs in academia and a variety of professional counseling and human service settings. Career options for students graduating from the RCE program include:

• Educator
• Counselor
• Supervisor
• Researcher
• Leader in the counseling field