Vocational Forensic Rehabilitation

Fully Online and Fully On-Campus Options

In many fields the term "forensic" means any legal or court related process (forensic refers to more than clinical pathology). In this case using forensic rehabilitation skills will further develop our students understanding and application of vocational skills.

This is a graduate level certificate, as such students with a bachelors degree or masters degree are eligible to enroll in the FVRC program. Students will take six courses, which are required for certificate completion. There are no electives. Students will take two courses each semester, for three semesters to complete the programs. Cohorts will be admitted each fall semester. Courses can be taken as non-degree by students eligible for Master' level coursework, or have a degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, or those completing a master's degree.

Auburn University's (AU) Vocational Evaluation Forensic Certificate program is designed to help State VR entities meet personnel standards as required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA; 2014; 2016), and the 1998 Amendments to the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. This proposal is designed to address the specific personnel needs of State VR system requirements, providing greater emphasis on evidence-based practices within vocational programming. Although some studies suggest that counselors who hold a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling perform significantly better with VR clients who have significant disabilities (Fleming, Del Valle, Kim, & Leahy, 2013), the creation of WIOA has downgraded the educational requirements to serve individuals with disabilities in a vocational capacity (McClanahan & Sligar, 2015; WIOA, 2014). This legislation allows employees with many different bachelor's degrees to provide vocational services to individuals with disabilities, despite a lack of specific training related to the rehabilitation field. This means that employees without education in vocational services or counseling will be working with individuals with disabilities, including those who have severe disabilities. Although there are a few forensic programs that exist, they do not incorporate the needs of State VR services. The AU Vocational Evaluation Forensic Certificate program will provide programming that covers the commonalities from both the State VR and Forensic systems. The main goal is to train skilled personnel to fill State vocational rehabilitation vacancies, and/or work in the forensic arena.

• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test if required by the department. Auburn University’s ETS institution code is 1005.
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for Management, Finance, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Accountancy programs. Auburn’s GMAT institution codes are:
• Successful international applicants must score at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper version (pBT), 213 on the computer version (cBT), and 79 on the internet version (iBT). Additionally, successful applicants must score minimums of 16 on the listening, reading, speaking, and writing components of the iBT. Auburn University’s ETS institution code is 1005. Auburn will also accept a 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

  International applicants required to submit a language test score have several options of certifying their English proficiency.

  The TOEFL or IELTS will be the only accepted language proficiency tests for admission to Auburn University Graduate School. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.

  ETS has also created the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition to meet the needs of students who are unable to take the test in a test center due to COVID-19. The test is taken on your own computer at home and is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the TOEFL iBT test taken at a test center. Visit The TOEFL Tests (ets.org) for more information.

• Up to three (3) letters of recommendation may be required by the department. Applicants should contact the department to find out, first, if letters are required. If so, how many? And how should these letters be submitted?
• International applicants must demonstrate full financial sponsorship if accepted into a graduate program, proof of a comprehensive medical insurance plan and submit an Official Statement Of Finance for International Students Form for 2023-2024. For more information, review our International Instructions.
• One official transcript of all undergraduate and any graduate credits from each school previously attended. If an Auburn University transcript, the Graduate School will acquire the transcript for you. Official electronic transcripts from domestic institutions may be sent to [email protected].
• International applicants should provide an official original language transcript and final diploma/certificate(s) accompanied by a certified English translation of each document.
• Application fee payment: $60 for domestic students; $70 for international students. The following applicants are eligible for a fee waiver:
  • Current Auburn University graduate students enrolled in graduate courses
  • Full-time Auburn University employees
  • Alabama HBCU applicants from the following schools (first 300 received per year): Alabama A&M and Alabama State Universities, Concordia, Miles, Stillman and Talladega Colleges, Oakwood & Tuskegee Universities – submit copy of school ID
  • Ronald McNair Scholars – must submit a memo from sponsoring institution
  • Florida A&M Feeders Program – must submit a memo from Faculty sponsor
  • GEM applicants – must submit a copy of their GEM application
  • Active Duty Military – with a letter confirming duty
  • Applying for an approved dual program – the second application fee is waived

  To qualify for one of the application fee exemptions, you must submit the required documentation to the Graduate School.