Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Program Prepare to Support Individuals on Their Path to Independence and Well-Being
60
Credit Hours
Online* with required intensives
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Dates: January 18, 2027 | February 15, 2027 | March 22, 2027
Help People Find Hope and Healing with a Clinical Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling
Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals who are navigating the challenges of chronic illness and disability? Through Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, you can learn how to advocate for your clients and provide them with the tools to achieve greater independence in their day-to-day life. Earning a clinical master’s in rehabilitation counseling online can help equip you with the knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue a career as a Licensed Professional Counselor.**
A clinical master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling focuses on the intersection of mental health and rehabilitation, enabling you to address both psychological and functional needs. By integrating evidence-based practices with a compassionate approach, you can prepare to serve as a vital resource in a variety of settings, from private practices to federal agencies. Our curriculum emphasizes the importance of advocacy, ethical service delivery, and the development of professional identity in the counseling field.
At Liberty, we prioritize your growth as a practitioner by combining high academic standards with practical application. Whether you aim to work in correctional facilities, hospitals, or community-based organizations, a clinical rehab counseling degree can train you to foster independence and a greater quality of life for those you serve.
For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
**Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.
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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose a Clinical Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling?
Choosing the right graduate program is a significant step toward your professional future, and Liberty University is committed to supporting your journey. We hold accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), ensuring that your education meets established standards of academic quality and institutional integrity. You can be confident that our online programs are held to the same standard of excellence as our residential programs.
Preparation for licensure is another key aspect of this clinical rehabilitation counseling degree. By completing this program, you can meet the educational requirements to pursue credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Licensure is required for many counseling roles in a variety of clinical, community, and rehabilitation settings, so fulfilling licensure requirements can be an important step toward preparing for your future.
Hands-on training is essential for your development, which is why you can gain valuable experience through structured practicum and internship hours in our clinical rehabilitation counseling degree. You’ll be able to participate in these supervised experiences at an approved location near you. Not only that, but our online coursework can be completed from anywhere with an internet connection in order to provide you with maximum flexibility.
Our faculty members are seasoned behavioral sciences and mental health professionals who have served in agencies, churches, private practices, and more. They bring a wealth of practical wisdom and experience, providing mentorship that can help you navigate the nuances of clinical practice. You can benefit from their dedication to your professional growth and their commitment to fostering a collaborative learning environment.
What Will You Study in a Clinical Rehab Counseling Degree?
In this program, you will explore the core pillars of counseling, including ethical and legal issues, human growth and development, and multicultural counseling. Your coursework will cover the essential theories of counseling and the integration of spirituality, allowing you to develop an approach to counseling that considers the many facets of the human experience. You will also examine the complexities of group counseling, research and program evaluation, assessment techniques, psychopathology, and family systems, further developing your knowledge of the numerous factors that influence mental health.
Your specialization will focus on how to meet the unique needs of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. You will study vocational interventions, medical and psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability, and advanced assessment and treatment planning techniques. These topics can help you examine how to synthesize rehabilitation and counseling theories into a well-rounded framework to support your clients’ personal and employment goals.
Applied experiences form the heart of your training, as you will complete practicum and internship hours during the course of the program. Through these experiences, you can refine your clinical skills under the guidance of supervisors as you serve directly in hands-on settings. These opportunities can help you strengthen your ability to assess client needs, develop treatment plans, and apply counseling techniques in professional environments. By working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances, you can gain deeper insight into the challenges and goals that often shape the rehabilitation counseling process.
Potential Career Opportunities
With a clinical master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, you can prepare to pursue a career as a counselor in a variety of settings, such as:
- Churches and faith-based mental health institutions
- Correctional facilities
- Federal and state agencies
- Mental health agencies
- Mental health and rehabilitation hospitals
- Public or private practices
- Residential treatment facilities
Featured Courses
- COUC 501 – Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling
- COUC 633 – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and Vocational Interventions*
- COUC 643 – Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability*
- COUC 673 – Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Case Coordination in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling*
*Course guide coming soon
Course Format
We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.
In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.
You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
- View our Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides (login required).
- Two 3-credit-hour intensives with flexible scheduling are required.
- One 3-credit-hour practicum that requires 100 hours – 40 of which are direct contact hours – is required.
- One 6-credit-hour internship taken in two 3-credit-hour courses over 2 semesters is required.
- Review the background check and comprehensive exam information.
- The MA in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program online may lead to licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in most states. See which states have unique board requirements.
Degree Completion Plan coming soon
Licensure Information
The 60-hour clinical rehabilitation counseling degree is designed to lead to professional licensure as outlined by individual state boards of counseling. Before enrolling in a licensure program at Liberty University, students should consult the rules and regulations regarding professional counseling for their particular state. More specifically, students should be aware of the following before enrolling in one of Liberty University’s counseling programs:
- State regulations regarding licensure opportunities if an applicant has a previous felony conviction.
- State regulations regarding the type and number of academic courses and practicum/internship hours.
- The state accreditation requirements for educational institutions.
- The state regulations and requirements for online graduate education programs.
State Licensure Requirements
Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Many of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2026 when compared to our leading online competitors.
| Graduate Full Time | $600/Credit |
|---|---|
| Graduate Part Time | $665/Credit |
| Military Graduate | $310/Credit |
These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Liberty’s Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- There is no application fee to apply to Liberty University.
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with at least a 2.7 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work. Please note – once accepted into the program, a 3.0 graduate GPA is needed to maintain good academic standing in the program.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Students must have 3 credit hours in statistics (ex: MATH 201) either on their transcripts or must complete this requirement as a prerequisite to specific graduate courses.
- Submit contact information for 2 recommenders from professional sources (i.e., not family/friends). This form can be submitted online (login required) or to luoverify@liberty.edu – 1. Name 2. Position/Title 3. Email 4. Phone 5. Place of Employment 6. Mailing Address. These individuals should be qualified to address the applicant’s ability to complete the graduate-level work, disposition, ability to become a counselor, and their maturity, motivation, and ethics. Some examples of individuals that may be suitable include professors, employers, or leaders in an organization where the applicant volunteers. Please note: This contact information must be less than 1 year old.
- Statement of Purpose
- Please describe in 200-250 words why you desire to become a counselor and indicate the type of counselor certification you plan to seek after graduation.
- Describe in 200-250 words an occasion in which you have interacted with an individual or a group of individuals from another culture. Identify the cultural differences which were present and how you demonstrated respect for those differences.
- Describe in 200-250 words how you form effective interpersonal relationships with others in individual and group settings.
- Complete the form agreeing to the Department of Counselor Education and Family Study’s Master of Arts in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Mission Statement and Diversity Statement.
- Students seeking to be admitted into this program and planning to finish it outside of the U.S. will be required to sign an International Disclosure Agreement (login required).
- Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent for admission review by the department. This review can take 1-2 full business days for review (24-48 hours).
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Bridge Program
Students who do not meet the required 2.7 GPA can potentially be placed into the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Studies.* Upon successful completion of this certificate with at least a 3.0 GPA, these students can be reevaluated for the MA in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program.
*In order to be eligible for the alternate pathway, admission requirements for the graduate certificate must still be met.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy
Please see the Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $310 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Programs
What is clinical rehabilitation counseling?
Clinical rehabilitation counseling is a specialized field that focuses on the mental, physical, and vocational needs of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. It combines the clinical techniques of mental health counseling with the specialized knowledge needed to help clients navigate systemic, social, and physical barriers. Through Liberty’s MA in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling degree, you can study how to provide holistic support that can empower your clients to pursue their personal and professional goals.
What can you do with a master’s in rehabilitation counseling?
Graduates of clinical master’s in rehabilitation counseling programs often pursue diverse career paths in settings such as mental health agencies, hospitals, correctional facilities, and private practices. Many also find roles in federal and state agencies or community mental health institutions. You could go on to work as a clinical rehabilitation counselor, helping individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses overcome barriers to employment and mental wellness.
What degree do you need to be a rehabilitation counselor?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field is typically required in order to work as a rehabilitation counselor, with many positions also requiring licensure.* Liberty’s MA in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is designed to provide advanced training in counseling while helping you meet the educational requirements necessary to pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Rehabilitation Counselors (viewed online Oct. 15, 2026). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
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