Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Certification Guide

Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor

(CRC) Certiﬁcation Guide

ACCREDITED

NCCA BY ICE

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The CRC Certiﬁcation Program

is accredited by NCCA.

Section 1: Introduction & Inquiries 4

What is a Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor?

Section 2: Certiﬁcation Program 6

Section 3: CRC Career Pathways 7

Section 4: Certiﬁcation Calendar 8

Section 5: Eligibility Criteria (Requirements) 8

Disclosure Requirement

International Degrees

Eligibility Categories

Section 6: Required Body of Knowledge Areas Deﬁnition 15

Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice in Rehabilitation Counseling (C & R)

Theories & Techniques of Counseling and Evidence Based-Practice (C & R)

Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disabilities (R)

Assessment/Evaluation, Occupational Analysis and Service Implementation (C & R)

Career Development & Job Placement (C & R)

Case Management (C) and Community Partnerships (R)

Research, Methodology, & Performance Management (C & R)

Section 7: Acceptable Employment Experience 16

Area I. Counseling

Area II. Planning and delivery of rehabilitation counseling services for

individuals with disabilities as shown below.

Section 8: Internship Experience for Categories 2 and 3 18

Section 9: Application Process 18

Section 10: Eligibility Determination 18

Application After Discontinuation of Application Processing or Revoked

Certiﬁcation

Section 11: Appeals Process 19

Section 12: Certiﬁcation Examination 21

Examination Structure

Exam Construction and Scoring

Examination Content

Schedule the Exam Early

Failure to Schedule the Exam Appointment

Examination Schedule and Key Tips

Table of Contents

Examination Site Options

CRCC Exam Deferral Policy

Re-Examination (Retake)

Section 13: Test Accommodations 29

Non-Discrimination Policy for Individuals with Disabilities

Conﬁdentiality

View of an Authorized Testing Center Tour

Examination Breaks for Individuals Who are Granted Extra Time

Section 14: Examination Scores, Results, Certiﬁcates, and Inquiries 32

Examination Scores

Examination Score Report and Results

Certiﬁcates

Examination Inquiries

Section 15: Use of the CRC Designation 34

CRC

Section 16: Certiﬁcation Renewal 35

Continuing Education

Proﬁle Update

Section 17: Fees 36

Certiﬁcation Fee

Re-Examination (Retake) Fee

Exam Deferral

Category 3 Eligibility Pre-Review fee

Certiﬁcation Renewal Fee

CRC/Retired Designation Fee

Handling Fee for Returned Checks

Certiﬁcation Veriﬁcation Fee

Replacement Certiﬁcate

Thank you for your interest in the Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor certiﬁcation process.

The acronym CRC

is used throughout this guide to refer to the designation Certiﬁed

Rehabilitation Counselor. CRCC

is used to refer to the Commission on Rehabilitation

Counselor Certiﬁcation.

Candidates who wish to pursue certiﬁcation should refer to this guide as it contains

information to help guide individuals through the application and examination processes.

As information in this guide is updated periodically, please access the guide directly from the

CRCC website to view the most recent version. Be sure to read carefully before completing an

application.

CRCC uses email and ﬁrst-class mail to maintain contact with all candidates. It is the

candidate’s responsibility to update their contact information, making any changes necessary.

Please contact CRCC with any questions:

Phone: 847-944-1325

Email: contactus@crccertiﬁcation.com

Section 1: Introduction & Inquiries

Reproduction of this guide, in whole or in part, is expressly prohibited without written consent

from CRCC.

Recommended citation: Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certiﬁcation. (2019). CRC

Certiﬁcation Guide. Schaumburg, IL: Author.

CRCC

is a registered service mark of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certiﬁcation.

CRC

is a registered certiﬁcation mark of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor

The CRC certiﬁcation mark must be used consistent with the scope for which the certiﬁcation was

granted and in accordance with all applicable use policies of CRCC. Unauthorized, fraudulent

or misleading use of the CRCC or CRC marks may result in legal or other actions, which may

include but are not limited to, revocation of CRC certiﬁcation.

PUBLICATION DATE: April 1981

REVISED: June 19, 2019

UPDATED: April 11, 2024

What is a Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)?

CRCs are nationally certiﬁed counselors educated and trained at the graduate level.

They have specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities to collaborate with persons with all

types of disabilities to overcome barriers to employment or other life domains.

Through a comprehensive and holistic approach, CRCs work with the whole person, to

help them understand the functional implications of their disability and the environmental

constraints that may occur.

CRCs empower individuals with disabilities to articulate their needs, achieve their personal,

social, psychological, vocational, and independent living goals.

CRCs provide a bridge between the individual and self-sufﬁciency, assisting their clients in

living fully integrated lives.

CRCs are unique in comparison to other counseling professionals given their interaction with

individuals with disabilities.

No other counseling profession is primarily dedicated to working with individuals with all

types of disabilities.

The purpose of certiﬁcation is to assist in the assurance that professionals engaged in

rehabilitation counseling meet acceptable standards of quality in practice. The existence

of acceptable standards is in the best interest of consumers of rehabilitation counseling

services and the public. Through participation in both the certiﬁcation and certiﬁcation

renewal programs, rehabilitation counselors are also able to bring about a higher level of

performance and qualiﬁcation throughout the profession.

Persons who earn the designation of Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) are the

only professional counselors educated and trained at the graduate level to practice and

speciﬁcally serve individuals with disabilities. The initial certiﬁcation is valid for ﬁve years. It

is achieved by satisfying speciﬁc educational/employment requirements and then passing

the CRC examination. The examination is based on a body of knowledge that encompasses

laws, public regulations, and the delivery of rehabilitation services as practiced in the United

States. CRCC conducts a job task analysis (previously known as the role and function study)

of the rehabilitation counseling ﬁeld approximately every ﬁve (5) years; the results of this

study are used to update the examination and ensure other elements of the CRC certiﬁcation

process accurately reﬂect the practice of rehabilitation counseling.

CRCC requires individuals who are applying for or renewing the certiﬁcation by exam, must

respond to questions related to any adverse actions taken by a licensing or certifying entity,

reprimand, or discharge by an employer for dishonesty, and convictions for violating any

laws, statutes, or ordinances. This information is used to ascertain whether such prior history

provides sufﬁcient reason to preclude the individual from certiﬁcation. It is not CRCC’s intent

to imply that any individual is suitable for employment or to impose stafﬁng requirements

on any agency. The intent is to establish a nationwide measure of professional standards that

may be used by any interested parties regarding rehabilitation counseling. Employers and

consumers should not rely solely on CRC certiﬁcation as a basis for employing or selecting a

rehabilitation counselor.

Rehabilitation counseling is a dynamic profession that is constantly evolving. Therefore,

CRCC has a certiﬁcation renewal program under which designation holders are required to

demonstrate their continuing professional development. Certiﬁcation renewal, required at

ﬁve-year intervals, is considered an essential part of an effective credentialing process, and

is intended to help practitioners keep abreast of current trends and new technologies, and to

enhance critical skills.

Acknowledging the evolving state of rehabilitation counseling, CRCC encourages CRCs

to continuously build on the demonstrated speciﬁed levels of knowledge, skills, and

ability addressed by the education/employment requirements and the initial certiﬁcation

examination. CRCs are also required to provide evidence of continuing competence through

the completion of courses and other activities that will help them more effectively serve their

clients.

Section 2: Certiﬁcation Program

Section 3: CRC Career Pathways

A CRC is the only professional counselor educated at the graduate level and who has

demonstrated a breadth and depth of knowledge and skill necessary to serve individuals with

disabilities across a wide range of disabling conditions.

The career opportunities for rehabilitation counselors are far-reaching and may cover a

multitude of pathways and work settings.

CRCs work in education, the health sector, community rehabilitation programs, government

agencies, and the private sector. Wherever an individual with disabilities might seek services,

certiﬁed rehabilitation counselors can be found.

These work settings and areas of specialty provide numerous opportunities for each CRC to

make a difference in the ﬁeld they feel ﬁts their professional interests.

CRCC encourages you to start your career pathway today! Pursue the CRC certiﬁcation and

consider the opportunities available to you in the rehabilitation counseling ﬁeld.

You can view the complete Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor Career Pathways guide here.

The CRC examination is administered three times a year. The following calendar provides

important dates for the certiﬁcation program.

Registration Opens Application Deadline Examination Dates

December 16, 2023 April 30, 2024 July 15-23, 2024

May 1, 2024 August 15, 2024 October 14-22, 2024

August 16, 2024 December 15, 2024 March 10-18, 2025

Examinees will receive a grade of “pass or fail” at the completion of their exam. Within 48

hours after the completion of the CRC exam, examinees will receive a follow-up email with

a link to the Pearson VUE website to access their exam results. Candidates who pass will

receive a preliminary notiﬁcation from Pearson VUE; however, candidates must wait to

receive the ﬁnal conﬁrmation from CRCC stating that all the requirements are met before

using the CRC designation. Examinees who fail the exam will receive a ﬁnal score report

from Pearson Vue.

Section 4: Certiﬁcation Calendar

Section 5: Eligibility Criteria (Requirements)

CRCC does not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, arrest record (including

expunged criminal history), citizenship, color, disability (mental or physical), ethnicity/

ancestry, genetic information, language (if unrelated to their duties), marital status, military

status (including unfavorable discharge), national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex/

gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other additional class protected by

applicable law, including applicable County or City ordinances.

CRCC respects the privacy of its candidates. View the CRCC Privacy Policy here.

CRCC reserves the right to conduct an audit review of any CRC application or Category 3 Pre-

Review at any time. This may result on the denial of eligibility if deemed appropriate.

Disclosure Requirement

CRC eligibility is determined by CRCC after its review of an application for the CRC

credential. As described in Section 2, CRCC requires individuals to respond to various

questions relating to character and violations of the law. A prior conviction for violating

any law, statute, or ordinance will not automatically preclude an individual from being

determined eligible to seek certiﬁcation. However, CRCC will deem an individual to be

ineligible to seek certiﬁcation if they have not completed parole, probation, or any other

terms or conditions imposed by any court in conjunction with a conviction, a suspended

imposition of a sentence, or other sentencing alternative. Convictions include guilty pleas

and pleas of “no contest.”

If a candidate discloses violations of laws, statutes, or ordinances, CRCC requires court

documentation or a criminal background check identifying the charges raised and sentencing

status/disposition of those charges. Severity of the crime and length of time since the

incident are all taken into consideration. The documentation must address whether the

individual has met all conditions imposed by the court and paid all fees, if applicable. If court

documentation is not available, the candidate is required to submit to a criminal background

check through CRCC’s authorized provider, Justifacts, with all fees paid by the candidate.

CRCC staff will contact the candidate if a background check is needed.

Individuals currently on parole or probation or who have not completed other terms of

conditions imposed by the court in conjunction with a conviction will be automatically

deemed ineligible for certiﬁcation.

Candidates must submit a personal statement and/or documentation of afﬁrmative

corrective measures taken to address the concern(s) that initially led to termination of

application processing or revocation of certiﬁcation.

To be eligible to sit for the CRC examination, a candidate must be deemed ﬁt to pursue

CRC certiﬁcation by CRCC and must meet every requirement in one of the three categories

described below.

All education and employment requirements must be fully satisﬁed by the application

deadline. Candidates should refer to each eligibility category for details. Those applications

that do not meet the eligibility criteria for one of the following categories upon submission

of an application will be automatically denied. At the time the candidate exhausts the appeal

option (refer to Section 10: Eligibility Determination) or signiﬁes that they do not wish to

appeal, a refund of $75 will be issued. Individuals who exhaust or do not exercise the appeal

option and who choose to continue to seek certiﬁcation will be required to submit a new

application. Candidates must meet all the eligibility criteria in effect at the time of the new

application and pay the required certiﬁcation fee.

Applications that are inactive for six (6) months of opening an application without a payment

will be closed, and candidates will be required to complete a new application. Instructions on

how to apply are provided on the CRCC website.

International Degrees

If a degree is from another country, CRCC will allow a candidate to submit their transcripts

along with an evaluation report from either of the following sources:

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Ofﬁcers (AACRAO)/

Ofﬁce of International Education Services, (202) 296-3359.

World Education Services (WES)/International Academic Credential Evaluation,

(212) 966-6311.

CRCC will not accept evaluations completed by other sources. The evaluation report must be

sent from the source directly to CRCC postmarked by the application deadline date and must

include recognition status of foreign institution, level of education completed by the student,

U.S. degree comparability, ﬁeld of study, courses, credits or units, individual grades or overall

grade average, and course content. The candidate is responsible for all fees associated with

the evaluations and it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure the evaluations reach CRCC

by the deadline date. CRCC will evaluate the courses, units, and/or degrees on a course-by-

course basis.

Eligibility Categories

Category 1 – Student in or Graduate of a CACREP-Accredited Program

Student in or graduate of a master’s level rehabilitation counseling (RC) or clinical

rehabilitation counseling (CLRC) program accredited by CACREP at the time the degree is

or was conferred. If graduation occurred prior to July 1, 2017, the program must have been

accredited by CORE.

Note: Doctoral degrees should apply through Category 3.

Additional Requirements:

Students must submit evidence of enrollment in a master’s degree program in rehabilitation

counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling program. The Student Enrolled in a CACREP-

Accredited Master’s Program Veriﬁcation Form must be completed and submitted with the

application. To conﬁrm if your program is a CACREP-Accredited program, visit the website

here.

• CRCC does not accept a concentration in rehabilitation counseling or clinical

rehabilitation in lieu of a master’s degree.

• Students must submit an ofﬁcial transcript demonstrating they have completed 75% of

the coursework toward the master’s degree by the following dates in order to be deemed

eligible to take the CRC Exam:

• February 1 for the March exam

• June 1 for the July exam

• September 1 for the October exam

• Students and graduates must submit evidence of an internship of 600 clock hours

supervised by an on-site CRC or by a faculty member who is a CRC. The internship must

have been in rehabilitation counseling and the candidate must have a minimum of

240 clock hours providing direct rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with

disabilities.

Note: This “evidence of an internship” consists of an ofﬁcial college transcript for candidates

who graduated from the program. For candidates who are students completing the program,

CRCC accepts the Student Veriﬁcation Form until the student completes the graduation

process and provides a ﬁnal ofﬁcial college transcript that reﬂects the internship.

Transcripts Category 1

Candidate’s transcripts must reﬂect the granting of their Master’s degree in Rehabilitation

Counseling or Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling before CRCC is able to release their

examination results packet and ofﬁcially award the CRC certiﬁcation to candidates

who obtained a passing score on the examination. This transcript must also reﬂect the

successful completion of a 600-hour internship in rehabilitation counseling.

Electronic versions may be emailed to transcripts@crccertiﬁcation.com.

If an electronic version not available, the transcript may be mailed to:

CRCC, 1501 Woodﬁeld Road, Suite 105E

Schaumburg, IL 60173

Category 2 – Student in or Graduate of a Non-CACREP (or CORE)

Accredited Program

Student in or graduate of a master’s level rehabilitation counseling (RC) or clinical

rehabilitation counseling (CLRC) program that is not or was not accredited by CACREP or

CORE at the time the degree is or was conferred.

Additional Requirements for the Degree Program:

• The degree must have been granted by a college or university accredited by a national

or regional accrediting body at the time the degree is/was conferred.

• The degree program must be a minimum of 48 semester credit hours or 72 quarter

hours.

• The degree program must require the following graduate-level CRC Exam knowledge

domain content deﬁned by 2021 CRCC Job Task Analysis:

• Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice in Rehabilitation Counseling

• Counseling Theories, Techniques of Counseling & Evidence Based Practices

• Group & Family Counseling

• Crisis & Trauma &Interventions

• Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disabilities

• Assessment/Evaluation, Occupational Analysis and Service Implementation

• Career Development & Job Placement

• Business Engagement

• Community Resources & Partnerships

• Case Management

• Healthcare & Disability Management

• Research, Methodology, & Performance Management

• The degree program must require the following experiential components:

• Practicum of a minimum of 100 clock hours over a full academic term

supervised by a faculty member who is a CRC. The student must have a

minimum of 40 clock hours providing direct rehabilitation counseling services

to individuals with disabilities.

• Internship of 600 clock hours supervised by an on-site CRC or by a faculty

member who is a CRC. The internship must have been in rehabilitation

counseling and the intern must have a minimum of 240 clock hours providing

direct rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities.

Graduate credit must be awarded and must appear on an ofﬁcial transcript. The

Internship Veriﬁcation Form must be submitted with the application.

Internships, practicum courses, and CRCC eUniversity courses may not be used as evidence

of completing or teaching the foundational disability courses. All coursework must receive

college credit hours and include a grade. “Audit” or “pass-fail” courses are not accepted for

CRC eligibility.

Additional Requirements for Students:

• Students must submit evidence of enrollment in a master’s degree program in

rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling program. The Student

Enrolled in a Non-CACREP Accredited Master’s Program Veriﬁcation Form must be

completed and submitted with the application.

• CRCC does not accept a concentration in rehabilitation counseling or clinical

rehabilitation in lieu of a master’s degree.

• Students must submit an unofﬁcial transcript documenting they have completed 75%

of the course work toward the master’s degree by the following dates in order to be

deemed eligible to take the CRC Exam:

March Exam February 1st

July Exam June 1st

October Exam September 1st

Transcripts Category 2

Candidate’s transcripts must reﬂect the granting of their Master’s degree in Rehabilitation

Counseling or Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling before CRCC is able to release their

examination results packet and ofﬁcially award the CRC certiﬁcation to candidates

who obtained a passing score on the examination. This transcript must also reﬂect the

successful completion of a 600-hour internship in rehabilitation counseling.

Electronic versions may be emailed to transcripts@crccertiﬁcation.com.

If an electronic version not available, the transcript may be mailed to:

CRCC, 1501 Woodﬁeld Road, Suite 105E

Schaumburg, IL 60173

Category 3 – Graduate of a Master’s or Doctoral Program in Related Field of

Study

Candidates interested in applying under Category 3 must have received a master’s or doctoral

degree in one of the ﬁelds of study below and must complete a pre-review application form.

Category 3 approved degrees are:

Addictions/Substance Abuse Counseling Counseling Psychology

School/Guidance Counseling Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy

Mental Health Counseling Social Work

Counselor Education &

Supervision-Doctoral Degree*

*Counselor Education & Supervision with course content that emphasizes rehabilitation,

disability counseling.

CRCC only accepts transcripts stating the degree in one of the professions stated above.

CRCC does not accept a concentration in one of the above areas in lieu of a degree.

Pre-Review Requirements

All candidates must complete the Pre-Review process prior to submitting an application and

meet all requirements to be approved for Category 3 eligibility.

The pre-review includes an evaluation of the candidate’s ofﬁcial college transcript as well

as work experience; identiﬁcation of any gaps noted based on the CRC knowledge domain

areas; recommendations on how to bridge coursework and experience needed to meet the

eligibility requirements; and information about the next steps to submit the CRC application.

The pre-review process is not considered an ofﬁcial application. There is a nonrefundable

fee for this pre-review requirement. To download the pre-review form, click here. Candidates

need to submit pre-review documentation to contactus@crccertiﬁcation.com.

Additional Requirements for a Category 3 Degree Program are:

• The degree must have been granted by a college or university accredited by a national

or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA at the time the degree is/was

conferred. An ofﬁcial, digital transcript showing the graduate degree program and date

the degree was conferred can be submitted to transcripts@crccertiﬁcation.com.

• Graduates must submit evidence of having taken or taught (instructor of record) each

of the following graduate-level courses where the course objectives reﬂect content

deﬁned by CRCC (see Section 5: Eligibility Criteria). No more than two (2) courses may

be used to satisfy one (1) CRCC knowledge area.

Required CRCC academic knowledge areas include:

• Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice in Rehabilitation Counseling

• Counseling Theories, Techniques of Counseling & Evidence Based Practices

• Group & Family Counseling

• Crisis & Trauma & Interventions

• Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disabilities

• Assessment/Evaluation, Occupational Analysis and Service Implementation

• Career Development & Job Placement

• Business Engagement

• Community Resources & Partnerships

• Case Management

• Healthcare & Disability Management

• Research, Methodology, & Performance Management

An ofﬁcial transcript must be submitted/uploaded to CRCC that provides evidence of

successfully completing courses covering the required body of knowledge.

If a candidate taught or is teaching the course(s), a course syllabus must be submitted/

uploaded with the candidate’s name of instructor of record.

Internships, practicum courses, and CRCC eUniversity courses may not be used as

evidence of completing or teaching the foundational disability courses. All courses must

receive college credit hours. “Audit” or “pass-fail” courses are not accepted for CRC

eligibility.

Experiential Eligibility Requirements for Category 3:

• Candidates must submit evidence of one of the following experiential requirements:

• A graduate-level internship of 600 clock hours supervised by an on-site CRC or by

a faculty member who is a CRC. The internship must have been in rehabilitation

counseling and the intern must have a minimum of 240 clock hours providing direct

rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities. Graduate credit must

be awarded and must appear on an ofﬁcial transcript. The Internship Supervision

Veriﬁcation Form must be submitted with the application.

• Twelve (12) months of acceptable work experience under the supervision of a CRC.

(See Section 6). The Employment and/or Supervision Veriﬁcation Form must be

submitted with the application.

• Twenty-four (24) months of acceptable work experience. (See Section 6). The

Employment and/or Supervision Veriﬁcation Form must be submitted with the

application.

• Twenty-four (24) months of full-time employment teaching in a rehabilitation

counseling (RC) or clinical rehabilitation counseling (CLRC) program subsequent

to earning the master’s or doctoral degree. Full-time employment is deﬁned as 6

semesters, 8 quarters, or 2 contractual periods of 12 months and must include the

supervision of students and/or direct clinical work with a population of individuals

with disabilities. The Self-Employment Veriﬁcation Form must be submitted with the

application.

Transcripts Category 3

Candidate’s transcripts must reﬂect the granting of their Master’s degree in a Rehabilitation

Counseling related profession.

In addition, they must submit their ofﬁcial transcripts for the rehabilitation counseling

coursework as stated in the pre-review decision letter.

Electronic versions may be emailed to transcripts@crccertiﬁcation.com.

If an electronic version not available, the transcript may be mailed to:

CRCC, 1501 Woodﬁeld Road, Suite 105E

Schaumburg, IL 60173

A candidate who is applying in Category 2 or 3 must document speciﬁc CRC Exam Knowledge

Domain content at the graduate or post-graduate level to satisfy the educational requirements.

CRCC deﬁnes the required body of knowledge areas as follows:

Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice in Rehabilitation Counseling (C & R) focuses on

the history and philosophy of rehabilitation counseling, noting federal legislation concerning

vocational rehabilitation and independent living mandates. Content must also focus on ethical

issues in rehabilitation counseling. Further, rehabilitation counseling services provided in

various settings and career options for rehabilitation counselors must also be explored.

Theories & Techniques of Counseling and Evidence Based-Practice (C & R) focuses on

the study and application of a broad range of counseling theories and techniques. Acceptable

theories include but are not limited to: a) cognitive [reality, cognitive-behavioral, cognitive-

processing, rational-emotive, Gestalt]; b) behavioral; c) psychoanalytic; d) client-centered; e)

narrative; f) feminist; g) solution-focused; and h) systems theories.

Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disabilities (R) focuses on the

medical aspects of a variety of disabilities, medical terminology, and functional implications of

a variety of disabling conditions, as well as the psychological and social implications of a variety

of disabilities on individuals with disabilities, family members, other individuals, and society.

The nature of disability and related functional implication explored in the course must include

a broad range of disabilities such as: a) cognitive; b) hearing; c) orthopedic or physical; and d)

visual.

Assessment/Evaluation, Occupational Analysis and Service Implementation (C & R)

focuses on individual appraisal and standardized testing. Content must encompass the use of

standardized tests in areas such as achievement, aptitude, interests, personality, situational

testing, behavior observation. Further, content must include instruction in the interpretation

and application of assessment data.

Career Development & Job Placement (C & R) focuses on career education, career

development, career exploration, and job placement. Further, content must include career

development theories (e.g., Holland, Super, Roe, Minnesota Theory of Work Adjustment,

etc.); the use of occupational information and labor market trends in career counseling;

and job development and placement strategies, including placement of personnel, special

populations, and employer considerations.

Case Management (C) and Community Partnerships (R) focuses on the applied principles

of case and caseload management; delivery systems that encompass public, private for-proﬁt,

and private not-for-proﬁt settings; and community partnerships, including educational and

vocational programs and assistive technology solutions, offered in diverse settings to a variety

of populations with disabilities.

Research, Methodology, & Performance Management (C & R) focuses on systematic

investigation, procedures and/or approaches in research, including collecting and analyzing

data using a variety of research designs. Content must also focus on the use of research in

evidence-based practices and performance management, including program evaluation,

quality assurance, and continuous improvement, to demonstrate effectiveness of rehabilitation

counseling programs and services. Further, content must also provide an orientation to test and

measurement principles such as norms, reliability, and validity.

Section 6: Required Body of Knowledge

Areas Deﬁnitions

CRCC will accept full-time paid employment (or its equivalent in part-time work) as a valid

fulﬁllment of the experience criteria. All part-time employment will be pro-rated based on a

35-hour work week.

For any employment to qualify as acceptable, the required Employment Veriﬁcation Form

must provide evidence that 100% of a candidate’s time (at each position) has been spent

working as a counselor in a setting that provides rehabilitation counseling services to

individuals with disabilities as deﬁned by CRCC. All claims of employment must be veriﬁed

by the candidate’s current and former employers/supervisors. Employers and/or supervisors

must have been directly involved with overseeing the professional work experience of the

candidate. Furthermore, at least 50% of the activities must involve providing the DIRECT

rehabilitation counseling services listed in this section.

The term “individuals with disabilities” is interpreted by CRCC to include persons who have

limitations in life functioning (e.g., school, work, independent living, mobility) as a result

of conditions such as sensory impairments, mental illnesses, developmental disabilities,

learning disabilities, neurological disorders, chemical dependencies, and/or physical

disabilities. Each claim of employment must reﬂect professional experience as deﬁned in

Areas I and II which follow. A candidate’s employment veriﬁcations must include evidence of

job activities in both areas. The minimum percentage of time allotted to each area must be at

least 10%, while the combined time spent on both must be no less than 50%.

AREA I. Counseling

The application of cognitive, affective, behavioral, and systemic counseling strategies that

include developmental, wellness, and multicultural principles of human behavior. Such

interventions are speciﬁcally implemented in the context of a professional counseling

relationship and may include, but are not limited to: vocational, individual, group, marriage,

and family counseling and psychotherapy; the diagnostic assessment and treatment of

persons with mental, emotional, and behavioral impairments or disabilities; guidance and

consulting to facilitate educational and career development; the utilization of functional

assessments and career counseling for persons requesting assistance in adjusting to a

disability assessment; referrals; consulting; and research.

AREA II. Planning and delivery of rehabilitation counseling services for

individuals with disabilities as shown below.

Note: A candidate’s employment must reﬂect sufﬁcient activity in at least three (3) of the

seven (7) areas, ONE of which must be either a) case management, b) client assessment, c)

service planning for individuals with disabilities, or d) rehabilitation services coordination.

a) Case Management: This is the process of analyzing, planning, supervising, and

administering the sequential ﬂow of rehabilitation services to the clients for whom the

counselor has responsibility as well as coordinating the services of other professionals and

resources as required.

b) Client Assessment: Assessment is the process of collecting in-depth information

about a client’s situation and functioning to include information pertaining to vocational,

medical, psychological, social, functional, and environmental factors in order to identify

the client’s needs and develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that will address those

needs. The continual assessment and synthesizing of this information are the basis of a

plan for rehabilitation services.

Section 7: Acceptable Employment Experience

c) Service Planning for Individuals with Disabilities: Service planning is the process of

determining speciﬁc objectives, goals, and actions designed to meet the client’s needs as

identiﬁed through assessment results. The plan that is developed should be measurable,

action-oriented, and time-speciﬁc.

d) Rehabilitation Services Coordination: The counselor uses client assessment

information to coordinate required rehabilitation services. The assessment results are

used to determine the need for speciﬁc services and to make referrals to appropriate

providers. Other activities involve assessing the client’s progress toward rehabilitation

goals, determining the ﬁnancial resources/obligations related to the required services,

and providing feedback to all appropriate parties.

e) Job Analysis: Job analysis provides systematic and detailed information about a job:

what the worker does in relation to data, people, and things; the environmental and

physical demands of the job; the methodology and techniques employed; the machines,

tools, equipment, and work aids used; the materials, products, subject matter or services

that result; and the traits required of the worker.

f) Job Development/Placement: Job development refers to the process of consultation

with employers and the development of job opportunities in a comprehensive,

professional manner. The intent is to establish continuing and mutually beneﬁcial

relationships with potential employers through selective placement, job modiﬁcation,

and adjustment counseling. Job development activities should provide clients with an

opportunity to reach their employment potential. Job placement refers to the professional

activities involved in assisting persons with disabilities to seek, obtain, and maintain

appropriate employment. It may include guidance in vocational decision-making; training

in job-seeking skills; supportive counseling; identifying job leads; conducting labor market

surveys; negotiating with employers, supervisors and co-workers; and providing post-

employment and follow-up services.

g) Advocacy: The process of working to reduce attitudinal and environmental barriers

in society and facilitating the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in their

communities. The process may include advocacy on the individual or systems levels,

beneﬁts counseling, or supporting self-advocacy efforts of individuals with disabilities.

For employment to be considered for a CRC eligibility review, each position must be

veriﬁed on the Employment Veriﬁcation Form. This form must be completed and signed

by the appropriate supervisor/employer.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all required documentation is

submitted to CRCC as part of the completed application.

Applications missing any required documentation will not be considered for eligibility.

(Refer to Section 10: Eligibility Determination).

Candidates applying under Categories 2 or 3 must provide documentation of successfully

completing an internship. The internship needs to include a minimum of 10% of the time

performing counseling activities.

Candidates must have minimally provided services in three (3) of the following seven (7)

activities:

• Advocacy

• Case Management

• Client Assessment

• Job Analysis

• Job Development/Placement

• Rehabilitation Services Coordination

• Service Planning for Individuals with Disabilities

The combination of the time spent in these seven activities must be no less than 40%.

In addition, services must include one (1) of the following four (4) activities:

• Case Management

• Client Assessment

• Service Planning for Individuals with Disabilities

• Rehabilitation Services Coordination

Section 8: Internship Experience for

Categories 2 & 3

Section 9: Application Process

Section 10: Eligibility Determination

A candidate who does not meet the CRCC eligibility requirements will receive a notiﬁcation

explaining the reason and a notice of their right to appeal as detailed in Section 10.

Although not an all-inclusive list, the following may constitute grounds for immediate

discontinuation of application processing or ineligibility of obtaining the CRC.

• Falsiﬁcation of the certiﬁcation application.

• Falsiﬁcation of the veriﬁcation forms.

• Falsiﬁcation of any information requested by CRCC.

• Failure to maintain eligibility requirements once certiﬁed.

• Misrepresentation or fraudulent use of CRC status.

• Egregious, unprofessional, dangerous, and/or fraudulent acts or behavior.

The timeframe to review and determine CRC eligibility is based on the candidate’s

promptness to submit an explanation and all the required documentation.

If the candidate does not submit all the information by the application deadline, the

candidate will be responsible for a deferral fee or a new application fee.

The “Get Certiﬁed” section on the CRC website includes the CRC Application with step-by

step instructions to complete the process. Access the web page here.

New Application After Discontinuation of Application Processing or

Revoked Certiﬁcation

Applicants or certiﬁcants who engaged in action that caused CRCC to terminate application

processing or revoke an individual’s certiﬁcation may re-apply after 18 months have elapsed.

The candidate will need to start a new application. This does not guarantee a determination

of eligibility and will be subject to the standards and criteria in effect at the time of the new

application. The candidate will also need to pay the required application fee. CRCC welcomes

the submission of a personal statement and/or documentation of afﬁrmative educational

or corrective measures taken to address the concern(s) that initially led to termination of

application processing or a revoked certiﬁcation.

Section 11: Appeals Process

CRCC’s appeals process is available to any denied candidate. At the time the candidate

is informed of their denial by the CRCC, they will also receive information on their right

to appeal as well as the procedures, instructions, and time schedules for making such

an appeal. A request for an appeal must be sent to CRCC in writing within 30 days of the

decision by CRCC.

Materials submitted by the candidate, including any new evidence the candidate wishes to

submit, will be considered during the appeal process.

The appeal will be reviewed by CRCC’s Executive Director and the Executive Committee who

will make the ﬁnal decision regarding the candidate’s eligibility. The appeal process can take

up to 90 days for the ﬁnal decision by the Executive Committee.

During this time, the candidate will not be able to sit for the exam and may be subject to fees

that are part of the application procedure such as a deferral fee or a new application fee.

The appeals process is designed to provide:

• Complete reviews of the facts at issue.

• A second, independent evaluation of the material presented to the Standards and

Examination Committee.

• Due process.

• Fair and consistent application of eligibility criteria.

• A method to appeal certain aspects of the examination process.

The appeals education and experience review process does NOT provide:

• Additional time to acquire the education, employment experience, or supervision

required for certiﬁcation.

• Additional time to submit the documentation required for certiﬁcation.

Category 3 Appeal Process

Category 3 candidates are required to conduct the Pre-review process described in Section

4 prior to starting a CRC application. Based on the feedback received from the pre-review

process, candidates choose to pursue the educational requirement to complete the eligibility

requirements before starting the CRC Category 3 application process.

Note: the pre-review process is not considered an ofﬁcial CRC application. The Category 3

appeal process can only occur after the candidate has submitted all the documentation to

CRCC and was deemed ineligible to sit for the exam.

A candidate’s application is reviewed by staff, and if additional review is needed, is submitted

to the Standards and Examination Committee for a second review level. A candidate whose

application has been denied is provided with an opportunity to appeal for reconsideration of

their application.

At the time the candidate is informed of their denial by the Standards and Examination

Committee, they will also receive information on their right to appeal as well as the

procedures, instructions, and time schedules for making such an appeal. A request for an

appeal must be sent to CRCC in writing within 30 days of the decision letter. The appeal

process can take up to 90 days for the ﬁnal decision by the Executive Committee.

The options are:

• If a candidate chooses to pursue the educational requirement, CRCC will keep the CRC

application open for one (1) year and the candidate will waive their right to the $75

refund.

• If a candidate does not reply within 30 days of the date of the letter, CRCC will issue

a refund of $75 to the candidate due to being deemed ineligible for certiﬁcation. The

candidate’s application will be closed.

A candidate who chooses to exercise this right to appeal will have their complete ﬁle

presented to the Executive Committee during the next examination cycle. None of the

members of the Executive Committee will have taken part in the decision-making process of

the Standards and Examination Committee, thus ensuring a second, objective review of each

candidate’s ﬁle. However, members of the Executive Committee will have the report of the

Standards and Examination Committee to study before making their decision.

Appeal Post CRC Examination

If a candidate who has taken the examination feels there was an error or omission in the

process or if that candidate questions any aspect of the examination procedure, an inquiry

may be directed to CRCC’s Standards and Examination Committee. Should the candidate

disagree with the ﬁndings of this committee, a second determination may be requested from

the Executive Committee. The decision of the Executive Committee is ﬁnal. This process can

take up to 90 days for the ﬁnal decision by the Executive Committee.

A candidate who subsequently remedies the default that caused the initial denial of their

eligibility must submit a new application and will be subject to the standards and criteria in

effect at the time of the new application and pay the required application fee.

Section 12: Certiﬁcation Examination

Examination Structure

The certiﬁcation exam is a computer-based exam and consists of 175 multiple-choice

questions drawn from CRCC’s “item pool” of questions. Anyone seeking the CRC certiﬁcation

must take this exam, which is based on a body of knowledge encompassing the laws, public

regulations, and existing delivery systems for rehabilitation services in the U.S.

Each exam includes 150 scored items and 25 ﬁeld test questions that will not be used in the

scoring of the exam. Details about the exam tutorial are posted in the Examination Schedule

section.

The CRC exam content has two sections:

1. Rehabilitation and Disabilities

2. Counseling

The exam is constructed to ensure that it is consistent with minimal competency

requirements and criteria-referenced testing concepts. Standards for item selection include

item difﬁculty (between .39 and .95 with a median in the .60-.70 range); a positive point

biserial; and appropriate content distribution. Using an intensive ﬁeld-testing process, CRCC

has developed a pool of questions that contains a comprehensive selection of statistically

validated exam items. A task force of rehabilitation counseling professionals is charged with

continually adding to and upgrading this “item pool.”

Exam Construction and Scoring

The exam is scored using a conjunctive scoring model whereby the exam is divided into two

sections. One section tests knowledge regarding rehabilitation and disability issues and the

other section tests knowledge regarding counseling. Candidates must achieve a passing

score on both sections on a single exam administration to pass the examination.

Examination Content

The certiﬁcation examination is comprised of questions across twelve (12) knowledge

domains based on the empirically derived test speciﬁcation obtained from the 2021 Job Task

Analysis research study.

Below is an overview of the CRC Exam Content Outline. For the full exam speciﬁcation,

including the CRC Knowledge Domains, Competencies, and Tasks based on the 2021 Job

Task Analysis (JTA) Evidence-Based Research Study, please click here. We recommend

reading the full document to prepare for the CRC Exam.

CRC Exam Knowledge Domains (% of Questions)

1. Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice (10.7%)

A. Uphold professional ethical standards for rehabilitation counselors and manage risk.

[C}

B. Understand and apply laws and public policy affecting individuals with disabilities. [R

C. Advocate for diversity, understand, and apply appropriate ser vices that address

multicultural counseling issues. [C]

D. Understand and apply appropriate rehabilitation terminology and concepts. [R]

E. Understand and identify the differing professional roles, functions, and effective

relationships with other providers and professionals. [C]

F. Understand the credentialing issues related to the rehabilitation counseling profession

and advocate for appropriate solutions. [C]

G. Understand the differing organizational structures of rehabilitation counseling practice

settings (e.g., public, private-for-proﬁt, and not-for-proﬁt service delivery systems). [R]

H. Understand, synthesize, and apply knowledge of historical and philosophical

foundations of rehabilitation counseling. [R]

2. Counseling Theories, Techniques, and Evidence-Based Practices (11.3%)

A. Apply clinical problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. [C]

B. Understand rehabilitation techniques for individuals with disabilities. [R]

C. Understand individual counseling theories. [C]

D. Utilize individual counseling practices, interventions, and techniques. [C]

E. Understand substance use and treatment. [C]

F. Establish and maintain effective working alliances with clients. [C]

G. Understand dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders. [C]

H. Understand counseling/training to help clients develop workplace socialization skills.

[R]

I. Demonstrate motivational interviewing use and skills. [C]

J. Facilitate treatment planning for clinical conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD). [C]

K. Understand human growth and development. [C]

L. Apply evidence-based psychosocial/psychiatric rehabilitation interventions in

rehabilitation counseling practice. [R]

M. Apply evidence-based vocational interventions in rehabilitation counseling practice. [R]

N. Apply or facilitate evidence-based counseling/therapy for clients with clinical diagnoses

(e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD). [C]

O. Apply or facilitate evidence-based counseling/therapy for clients with substance use

disorders. [C]

P. Understand theories and techniques of clinical supervision. [C]

Q. Recognize and utilize evidence and research-based practices. [C]

3. Group and Family Counseling (4.7%)

A. Understand family counseling theories. [C]

B. Incorporate family counseling practices and interventions. [C]

C. Understand group counseling theories. [C]

D. Incorporate group counseling practices and interventions. [C]

4. Crisis and Trauma Counseling and Interventions (6.0%)

A. Conduct assessment of client risk and development of a safety plan. [C]

B. Provide effective rehabilitation counseling services for individuals with polytrauma

injuries. [C]

C. Understand the impact of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on people

with disabilities. [C]

D. Use principles of crisis intervention for people with disabilities during crises, disasters,

and other trauma-causing events. [C]

E. Understand the emergency management system within rehabilitation agencies and in

the community. [C]

5. Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability (9.3%)

A. Evaluate the psychosocial and cultural impact of disability. [R]

B. Understand medical terminology. [R]

C. Apply knowledge of the medical aspects and implications of various disabilities. [R]

D. Review the implications of medications as they apply to individuals with disabilities. [R]

E. Address environmental and attitudinal barriers for individuals with disabilities. [R]

6. Assessment/Evaluation, Occupational Analysis, and Service Implementation (10.7%)

A. Understand the vocational implications of functional limitations associated with

disabilities. [R]

B. Access and review resources for the assessment process. [C]

C. Refer or conduct informal assessments. [C]

D. Refer or conduct formal assessments. [C]

E. Refer or perform Transferable Skills Analysis (e.g., VDARE). [C]

F. Interpret assessment results for rehabilitation planning purposes. [C]

G. Perform job analysis. [R]

H. Assess ergonomic, job accommodation, and assistive technology needs. [R]

I. Advise on job modiﬁcation and restructuring techniques. [R]

J. Perform labor market analysis. [R]

K. Use computer-based job matching systems. [C]

7. Career Development and Job Placement (9.3%)

A. Understand, identify, and apply career development and job placement strategies. [R]

B. Understand, identify, and apply job readiness, seeking, and retention skills. [C]

C. Understand the unique needs of specialized populations in relation to job development

and placement. [R]

D. Understand techniques to develop and retain relationships with employers to assist with

job development and placement. [R]

E. Understand and identify evidence-based employment models and services tailored

to individuals with signiﬁcant disabilities and/or barriers to competitive employment.

[R]

F. Understand the unique needs of individuals with a dual diagnosis in the workplace and

apply appropriate strategies. [R]

G. Understand and apply theories of career development and work adjustment. [C]

H. Understand, identify, and facilitate the appropriate use of work conditioning or work

hardening resources and strategies. [R]

I. Understand the effective use of and risks of social media as a networking tool. [C]

8. Business Engagement (7.6%)

A. Assist employers with job accommodations for their employees with disabilities (e.g.,

assistive technology, workspace modiﬁcations). [R]

B. Provide consultation services and training to employers / businesses concerning

disability concepts, best practices, and applicable laws (e.g., hiring, return to work,

reasonable accommodations, and retention). [R]

C. Partner with employers/businesses to address needs and concerns related to hiring and

retaining individuals with disabilities. [R]

D. Understand, communicate, and apply business-focused strategies, techniques, and

terminology to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. [R]

E. Work with employers to develop pipelines for employing individuals with disabilities

using work-based learning and training methods. [R]

F. Understand the dual customer role (e.g., employer and person with a disability). [R]

9. Community Resources and Partnerships (8.0%)

A. Understand the programs and services available for speciﬁc and underserved

populations. [R]

B. Understand Social Security programs, beneﬁts, work incentives, and disincentives. [R]

C. Possess knowledge of funding sources and community resources for rehabilitation

services. [R]

D. Provide or facilitate skills development and independent living services. [R]

E. Provide or facilitate ﬁnancial literacy training. [R]

F. Understand and refer to services available through client advocacy programs (e.g.,

Client Assistance Program [CAP], legal aid). [R]

G. Refer to and partner with one-stop career centers and other community stakeholders.

[R]

H. Understand and facilitate life care planning and life care planning services. [R]

I. Advocate with community partners for full community inclusion for people with

disabilities. [R]

J. Provide or facilitate counseling on the impact of employment on community services

and beneﬁts. [R]

10. Case Management (10.0%)

A. Understand and apply the case management process. [C]

B. Complete case recording and documentation. [C]

C. Understand and apply negotiation, mediation, and conﬂict resolution strategies. [C]

D. Understand and apply the principles of caseload management. [C]

E. Understand and address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity,

and success for clients. [C]

F. Apply techniques for working with individuals with limited English proﬁciency or varied

communication methods. [C]

G. Understand and apply principles, models, and documentation formats for

biopsychosocial case conceptualization and treatment planning. [C]

11. Health Care and Disability Management (7.3%)

A. Understand and provide appropriate medical intervention resources. [R]

B. Understand the diversity of healthcare beneﬁts, delivery systems, and the impact of

services on individuals with disabilities. [R]

C. Understand and collaborate with health promotion and wellness providers regarding

strategies for people with chronic illness and disability. [R]

D. Understand different insurance programs (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, group and

individual, short-and long-term disability, personal injury no-fault liability). [R]

E. Understand and apply disability prevention and management strategies. [R]

F. Understand the variability of workers’ compensation laws and practices. [R]

12. Research, Methodology, and Performance Management (5.3%)

A. Understand statistics and psychometric concepts related to measurement. [C]

B. Understand research methods (e.g., surveys, case studies) and data analysis. [C]

C. Assess research literature related to evidence – based practice. [C]

D. Comprehend concepts and principles of organizational development and stakeholder

management. [C]

E. Understand program evaluation procedures for assessing the effectiveness of

rehabilitation services and outcomes. [R]

Schedule the Exam Early

Candidates are allowed to start their application six (6) months prior to the examination

window. Candidates who complete their application and are approved will receive via email

an Authorization to Test (ATT) email with instructions to schedule the examination with

Pearson VUE. The ATT letter only applies to the upcoming examination window.

CRCC cannot guarantee seating availability at the testing centers and recommends that

candidates schedule the exam immediately upon receipt of the ATT email notiﬁcation to

obtain a preferred location, date, and time. This ATT email contains instructions to schedule

the examination with Pearson VUE. Candidates should allow four (4) hours for the exam.

If the candidate delays in scheduling their exam, CRCC is not responsible for the candidate’s

difﬁculty in ﬁnding seating availability. The candidate may have to travel to a more distant site

or forfeit the exam window and submit a new application. CRCC will not grant extensions

due to a candidate’s delay in scheduling an appointment.

Cancellation Policy

If a candidate cancels an appointment (on-site or online), this must be done 48 hours prior to

the scheduled appointment time. Candidates on the second exam window cannot defer the

appointment to the next exam window. (Refer to Deferral policy).

The CRC exam application process only allows for two exam attempts under one application.

Candidates that are in the second window of their application can only reschedule for a

different date/time within the same exam window. The candidate assumes responsibility

and risk if cancelling a current appointment results in the candidate not being able to ﬁnd

another appointment and will need to forfeit the second exam window. CRCC does not

guarantee seating availability.

Note: If a candidate does not cancel their appointment (on-site or online) 48 hours prior to

the scheduled appointment time, they will forfeit their application exam fee.

Failure to Schedule the Exam Appointment

If the candidate does not schedule the exam appointment after receiving the ATT email by

the ﬁnal exam date, in the speciﬁed examination window, the candidate will forfeit sitting

during that examination window. If candidate wishes to pursue the CRC certiﬁcation at a

later window, they will need to submit a new application that will be subject to the standards

and criteria in effect at the time of the new application and they will be required to pay the

new application fee.

“No-Show” Appointment

If a candidate fails to appear for their scheduled CRC exam appointment the candidate will

forfeit their application and cannot retake the exam.

Candidates with invalid identiﬁcation or who arrive late and cannot be seated will be treated

as a “no show”.

The above causes for “No Show” appointment will be reﬂected in the candidate

record as a “failed” exam and the candidate’s application will be closed. If the candidate

wishes to pursue the CRC at a later window, the candidate will need to submit a new

application that will be subject to the standards and criteria in effect at the time of the new

application and candidate will be required to pay the new application fee.

Examination Schedule and Key Tips

The actual time allotted for the CRC exam content is 3.5 hours unless ADA accommodations

are requested and approved in advance by CRCC. Before starting the examination, a

candidate will take a tutorial that allows them to become familiar with helpful navigation

steps and the computer system. The CRC exam content has two sections: 1) Rehabilitation

and Disabilities; and 2) Counseling. The timer is set for both sections. Five (5) minutes before

ending each section, the candidate will receive a warning stating that the current section

time is about to expire. Once the ﬁrst section ends, the candidate will not be able to enter

that section, and the next section of the exam will appear immediately. After ﬁnishing both

sections of the examination, the candidate will need to complete a brief post exam survey.

For more information about examination study key tips, click here.

Preparing for the CRC Examination

CRCC has several study tips and resources available, including:

• CRC Exam Prep Flashcards

• CRC Exam Prep Audio Flashcards

• CRCC Self-Assessment

• CRCC Exam Reading List

• Sample CRC Exam Questions

Refer to the Exam Preparation Study Tips and Resources on the CRCC Website to access all

the resources available.

Examination Site Options

Candidates who apply and are approved to test during the upcoming testing window have two

options to take their exam:

• At a Pearson VUE test center or

• Via OnVUE Live Online Proctoring

Candidates must be mindful that there is a difference between what is allowed at a testing center

compared to what is allowed if a candidate opts to test remotely.

In-Person Testing Center Option

Candidates will be able to choose from approximately 380 test administration centers in the

U.S. and Canada. Because the location of test sites may change, CRCC does not maintain

information regarding test sites. When candidates are notiﬁed via email about their eligibility

to take the exam, they will be provided complete instructions. Refer to Schedule the Exam

Early for details.

Test administration centers are designed to provide standardized exam administration. Test

center personnel will guide candidates through the check-in process and will be available

throughout the exam to administer if a candidate has a question related to the exam’s

administration. Test center personnel cannot respond to questions relating to the content of

the examination. Test center personnel will verify required forms of identiﬁcation. A photo of

the candidate will also be taken.

All personal belongings must be placed in a locker available at the test center. Personal

belongings include tissues and any self-administered medication, whether over-the counter

or prescription medication. Books, paper, and other resources are not allowed. The test

center will provide the candidate upon request a laminated, reusable notebook with a special

marker. These booklets must be returned at the end of the exam. No food or drink, including

water, may be taken into the testing room.

Candidates must remove eyeglasses for close visual inspection during check-in and again

upon return from breaks. Hair accessories are subject to inspection. Jewelry aside from

wedding and engagement rings is prohibited in the testing room. Candidates should refrain

from wearing other jewelry or hair accessories.

Candidates are not permitted to leave the test center facility during the examination.

Candidates may take a break as needed to attend to personal health and care issues,

including restroom breaks, and the candidate will need to check out according to the

instructions that will be explained at the test center. If a candidate chooses to take breaks, the

time allotted for the examination will not increase and the examination timer will not stop

during breaks. Restroom breaks are only allowed to the closest restroom within the testing

center building. Breaks are not permitted during OnVUE (remote testing).

Any violation of the policy will be reported to CRCC for further investigation. A candidate,

who for medical reasons cannot comply with these rules, must apply in advance for testing

accommodations.

Candidates who attempt to violate exam security in any way will be dismissed from the

test center and may forfeit their right to seek certiﬁcation. Candidates will also be required

to respond in the afﬁrmative to full compliance with a conﬁdentiality and non-disclosure

agreement that will appear on the computer monitor prior to accessing the exam.

Invalid Identiﬁcation, Late Arrival, or Failure to Show: Admission Policy and Arrival Time

It is recommended that candidates arrive thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled

appointment time to complete the check-in process. One form of a current valid (non-

expired) government-issued photo identiﬁcation with the candidate’s signature will be

required.

Acceptable Forms of Non-Expired Government-Issued ID, With Signature and Photo

• Driver’s license

• Valid Passport

• Military ID card

• National or State ID card

• US Government-issued permanent resident card (commonly known as the green card,

formerly known as the alien registration card, permanent resident, visa)

• Please visit Pearson Vue for acceptable ID forms.

Candidates with invalid identiﬁcation or who arrive late and cannot be seated will be treated

as a “no show”.

Note: If a candidate does not cancel their appointment (on-site or online) 48 hours prior to

the scheduled appointment time, they will forfeit their application exam fee.

OnVUE Remote Testing Option

There are inherent risks in the online testing format. The candidate assumes responsibility

to ensure all IT technical communications are in place. Refer to the OnVUE section of the

Pearson VUE website here. Information on the Pearson VUE website pertaining to vouchers

or other waivers are not applicable to CRCC. Limited ADA accommodations are available for

remote OnVUE testing. Candidates must contact CRCC for speciﬁc requests.

The OnVUE system allows a candidate to take the exam from home on their own computer

while being monitored live by an off-site proctor through the candidates’ webcam. It is

recommended that candidates choosing the OnVUE option be very comfortable with

technology and familiar with their own computer equipment.

Candidates interested in OnVUE should thoroughly read the OnVUE online proctored

instructions provided by Pearson VUE. Click here before deciding on whether to sit for the

exam online or at a testing center. The candidate assumes responsibility to ensure all IT

technical communications are in place when testing OnVUE.

Testing sessions are available 24 hours a day and seven (7) days a week based on seating

availability. A candidate’s computer must have:

• A strong internet connection

• Updated software installed

• Webcam capability, a microphone, and speakers

It must also be placed in a quiet environment, free of distractions to ensure that the

online proctor can hear everything in the location. No one else can be in the room with the

candidate. A full listing of the exam session rules, and the technical requirements are posted

on Pearson VUE’s website.

Some ADA Accommodations will not be approved for remote testing.

All candidates must acknowledge the inherent risk for testing remotely through Pearson

Vue. If a remote exam is invalidated by a proctor due to the applicant’s issues such as

computer shutting down, unscheduled breaks, software compatibility issues, browsers

unexpectedly interrupting the exam, etc., an investigation will occur to determine the

cause (i.e., due to technology issue on the applicant’s side). Depending on the length

and time of the investigation, the candidate may not be able to test in the current testing

window. The candidate will need to pay all associated exam fees.

CRCC Exam Deferral Policy

Each application only allows for two subsequent exam sittings. The CRC Exam Deferral

policy can only be permitted for the ﬁrst exam sitting (one time per application) and a

deferral fee applies. If a candidate is unable to sit for their initial exam sitting, they will only

be allowed one deferral to the next subsequent exam sitting.

Candidates are responsible for cancelling their appointments with Pearson VUE at least 48

hours in advance, prior to deferring. A candidate must email a screenshot of the CRC exam

cancellation to contactus@crccertiﬁcation.com, then call CRCC staff at 847-944-1325 to

defer and pay the deferral fee. Deferral requests will not be processed without proof of

cancellation (screenshot) with Pearson VUE (refer to Section 17: Fees for deferral fees).

Inability to Sit for Second Scheduled Exam

Candidates who are unable to sit for the second scheduled exam will not be issued a refund

and will not be able to use the initial fees for anything else. Candidates who wish to continue

to pursue certiﬁcation will be required to submit a new application, along with payment of

the certiﬁcation application fee, to continue their pursuit of the CRC designation. Such new

applications will be subject to all criteria in effect at the time of the new application.

Re-Examination (Retake)

CRCC’s policy requires that candidates retake an examination within the next available exam

window. Candidates who do not achieve a passing score on the certiﬁcation exam on the ﬁrst

(initial) exam window are allowed to retake the exam at the next subsequent examination

window only. Requests for an examination retake must be made by the application deadline

for the next exam window (refer to Section 4: Examination Schedule).

Note: Candidates who do not achieve a passing score on their ﬁrst attempt of the current

application cannot defer their retake of the CRC examination. They must retake the

examination within the next available examination window or the application will close and

they will need to reapply.

Candidates who do not achieve a passing score on their second attempt or who are unable

to sit again during the window dates as for any reason are required to submit a new

application. Such new applications will be subject to all eligibility criteria (requirements) in

effect at the time of the new application.

Non-Discrimination Policy for Individuals with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and

other applicable laws in the United States, CRCC does not discriminate against individuals

with disabilities in providing access to its examination program. CRCC provides appropriate

accommodations for its examination for individuals with documented disabilities who

demonstrate a need for accommodations. The ADA and accompanying regulations deﬁne a

person with a disability as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially

limits one (1) or more major life activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, or learning. The

purpose of documentation is to validate the candidate is covered under the ADA or other

applicable laws. Comprehensive information by a qualiﬁed professional is necessary to allow

CRCC to understand the nature and extent of the candidate’s disability and the resulting

functional impairment that limits access to its examinations. Documentation also allows

CRCC to provide appropriate ADA accommodations for such a disability.

No candidate shall be offered an ADA accommodation that would compromise the certiﬁed

rehabilitation counselor examination’s ability to test accurately the skills and knowledge

it purports to measure. Similarly, no auxiliary aid or service will be provided that will

fundamentally alter the examination.

OnVue testing may not be possible for some ADA Accommodations. It is highly

recommended that candidates with accommodations test at a test center. All candidates

must acknowledge the inherent risk for testing remotely through Pearson Vue. If a

remote exam is invalidated by a proctor due to the applicant’s issues such as computer

shutting down, unscheduled breaks, software compatibility issues, etc., the candidate

will have the option to retake the exam and pay all associated fees.

Conﬁdentiality

CRCC strictly adheres to a policy of conﬁdentiality and does not disclose names of candidates

with disabilities or information concerning the application or accompanying documentation.

Examinations administered with ADA accommodations are not identiﬁed to third party score

recipients.

View of an Authorized Testing Center Tour

The space in a typical testing center shows the separations in cubes and spread-out seating

compared to standard classroom settings. The testing room is quiet (no speaking is allowed),

and noise cancellation headphones are provided when requested in advance. View a tour.

Candidates may request ADA accommodations beyond those shown above by selecting

“Other” on the Exam Accommodation Request Form, noting the ADA accommodation(s)

requested. This selection should also be used to indicate:

• A need to bring medical devices into the testing room

• A need to bring food or drink into the testing room when medically necessary to do so

• When documentation from a qualiﬁed professional is provided to support such request

Candidates who are deaf or who have hard of hearing disabilities, and who do require

assistance in communicating with test center personnel via sign language, must request

a sign language interpreter to facilitate communication at the test center. However, CRCC

does not allow sign language interpreters to translate the examination.

Section 13: Test Accommodations

Examination Breaks for Individuals Who are Granted Extra Time

Candidates requiring extra time are allotted a 60-minute scheduled break, which occurs

between the two sections of the examination. Candidates are only permitted to leave

the test center facility during the 60-minute scheduled break. Candidates testing in test

centers may choose to use all or part of the 60-minute scheduled break. Candidates may

take unscheduled breaks as needed to attend to personal health and care issues, including

restroom breaks. However, the time allotted for the examination will not increase and the

examination timer will not stop during unscheduled breaks. There are no additional breaks

beyond the 60-minute scheduled break for candidates testing via OnVUE (remote online

proctoring.) Any violation of the policy will be reported to CRCC for further investigation.

How to Request Test Accommodations

1. Candidates must download then complete the CRCC Exam Accommodations Request

Form. Read this form and request your physician or qualiﬁed professional who has

attended your care to complete the CRC Exam Accommodation Request Form with

supporting documentation. A qualiﬁed professional is deﬁned as an individual who is

licensed by a state or is certiﬁed nationally, has had contact with the candidate, and is

able to substantiate a record of diagnosis.

2. The following information must be included:

a. Date of individualized assessment of candidate

b. State a speciﬁc diagnosis of a disability, including International Classiﬁcation of

Diseases (ICD) code.

c. Give a detailed description of the applicant’s current functional limitations due

to the diagnosed disability and its severity. Explain the need for the requested

ADA accommodations.

d. Recommend speciﬁc accommodations, including assistive devices, related to

test taking needs. Provide a detailed explanation of why these accommodations

or devices are needed and how they will reduce the impact of the identiﬁed

functional limitations on the examination for which they are requested:

• 175 multiple choice question delivered via computer that is accessible with all

forms of assistive technology)

• Note: Problems such as test anxiety, English as a second language (in and of

itself), slow reading without an identiﬁed underlying cognitive deﬁcit, or failure

to achieve a desired outcome on a test are not learning disabilities and are not

covered under the ADA. Pregnancy in and of itself is not considered a disability

although pregnancy-related impairments may be covered under the ADA.

e. Signature and credential/license number of the qualiﬁed certiﬁed professional/

physician.

3. If a candidate is unable to upload the Exam Accommodation Request Form when

completing the application, the candidate may email it to contactUs@crccertiﬁcation.

com by the application deadline.

4. The candidates will be notiﬁed by CRCC in addition to the Authorization to Test (ATT)

email that lists the accommodations that have been approved. Accommodations that

are not approved by CRCC are not listed in the Authorization to Test (ATT) email.

5. Important Considerations - Request Accommodations Early

a. All ADA documentation must be submitted by the application deadline. If

not received by the application deadline, the accommodation request will not

be processed (see bullet #2 below). CRCC strongly recommends that candidates

requesting ADA accommodations should start their application no less than 30

days prior to the application deadline.

b. If the candidate does not submit the completed CRC Accommodation Request

form with supporting ADA accommodation documentation by the application

deadline, the candidate must forfeit their accommodation, or candidate will need

to defer to the next exam window and pay the deferral fee (see deferral policy).

c. A candidate may choose to take the exam without accommodations. However,

if candidate decides to request ADA accommodations after the CRCC has

completed the application process, the exam will need to be deferred to the

following consecutive window and the applicant will need to pay the deferral fee.

d. If a candidate fails the exam on the ﬁrst attempt the accommodation approval will

carry onto the second consecutive exam offered. ADA documentation will apply

for the duration of the application. See re-examination (retake) under section 12

for details.

Section 14: Examination Scores, Results,

Certiﬁcates, & Inquiries

Examination Scores

The examination is scored using a conjunctive scoring model whereby the examination is

divided into two sections. One section tests knowledge regarding rehabilitation and disability

issues and the other section tests knowledge regarding counseling. Candidates must achieve

a passing score on both sections on a single exam administration to pass the examination.

A panel of experts arrived at recommended passing scores for each part of the exam using

a method called the modiﬁed-Angoff approach. In this method, each expert considered

examination questions individually and made a judgment about the probability that a

minimally competent candidate would answer the questions correctly. The overall passing

scores were then computed as the average of the predicted probabilities for all individual

questions. This panel then recommended the passing scores for each section of the exam to

CRCC, which set the passing scores. These passing scores represent the minimum level of

knowledge that must be demonstrated to pass the examination.

Due to the need for security, multiple forms of examinations are used, each containing a

different combination of questions. The passing scores cannot be set as speciﬁc raw scores

or numbers of questions answered correctly because some of these forms may be slightly

easier or more difﬁcult than others. Therefore, requiring the same raw scores to pass the

different forms would not be fair to all candidates. A statistical procedure called equating is

used to adjust for any differences in the level of difﬁculty among examination forms. Once

the examination forms have been equated, a procedure called scaling is used to convert the

actual number of correct answers, or raw scores, to a uniform scale. These converted scores

are called scaled scores. Scaled scores ensure that all candidates demonstrate the same level

of ability to pass the examination.

CRCC states its disapproval of the use of test results for any purpose other than the use for

which the examination is developed and conducted. This warning includes using the test results

for employment selection. In addition, test results are not to be used to compare educational

programs. Certiﬁcation tests are mastery tests and are not to be used as achievement or

selection instruments.

Examination Score Report and Results

A score report indicating a grade of “pass or fail” is provided to examinees at the test site upon

completion of the CRC examination. Scores are not provided to examinees. Approximately

one week after the closing of the CRC exam, examinees will receive a follow-up email:

• Examinees who pass will receive a preliminary notiﬁcation of “Pass.”

• Examinees who “Fail” will receive a ﬁnal score report proﬁle from Pearson Vue including

diagnostic information. This information can be used for further study.

To protect the privacy of the candidate, exam results are conﬁdential and will only be released

to the candidate. Examination results cannot be released over the phone.

Certiﬁcates

Candidates that pass the exam will receive the CRC certiﬁcate via US mail to the address in

the CRCCconnect database These candidates are now considered “CRC certiﬁcants” and are

entitled to begin using the designation “CRC” after their names as soon as they receive the

CRC certiﬁcate. Individuals who do not receive their original certiﬁcate within eight (8) weeks of

their examination should contact CRCC immediately.

• It is a candidate’s responsibility to update the demographics in CRCCConnect (CRCC

database), to ensure relevant communications are received. See Update Proﬁle in section

16, under Certiﬁcation Renewal.

• Duplicate or replacement certiﬁcates can be requested from CRCC via a CRC’s online CRCC

account for a fee (refer to Section 17). All certiﬁcates remain the property of CRCC.

Examination Inquiries

Candidates who feel an error or omission occurred during the examination process or those

who question any aspect of the examination procedure may address an inquiry in writing to the

CRCC Standards and Examination Committee. If the candidate disagrees with the committee’s

ﬁndings, a further appeal may be made to the Executive Committee.

CRC: Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor

The CRC designation must be used consistent with the scope for which the certiﬁcation

was granted and in accordance with all applicable use policies of CRCC. Use of the CRC

designation is strictly limited to individuals who:

1. Have met all the criteria of CRCC and have taken part in the certiﬁcation examination,

either during the grandfathering period (1974-1975) or by achieving a passing score on

the CRC Exam.

2. Have been ofﬁcially notiﬁed by CRCC through the receipt of examination results

inclusive of a certiﬁcate and a score report indicating a passing status.

3. Have subsequently renewed their certiﬁcation as required under CRCC’s certiﬁcation

renewal plan.

No one may use the CRC designation or otherwise represent themselves as being certiﬁed

without ﬁrst having fulﬁlled these requirements. Individuals who improperly use the CRC

designation without having fulﬁlled the requirements who later seek CRC certiﬁcation may

be denied certiﬁcation as a result of such improper use. Such individuals may also be subject

to legal action.

Additionally, individuals who have earned the use of the CRC designation and fail to act in

accordance with the CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors may be

subject to disciplinary actions up to and including revocation of certiﬁcation.

Section 15: Use of the CRC Designation

Candidates who pass the certiﬁcation examination and achieve CRC certiﬁcation will be

provided information about certiﬁcation renewal criteria. CRCC believes CRCs should

continue to expand their skills to enhance the quality of the services they provide.

CRCs are encouraged to build on the demonstrated speciﬁed levels of knowledge, skills, and

ability addressed by the education/employment requirements and the initial certiﬁcation

examination. They are also required to provide evidence of continuing competence through

the completion of courses and other activities that will help them more effectively serve their

clients.

CRCC requires all CRCs to renew their certiﬁcation at ﬁve (5) year intervals. Participation

in continuing education throughout the ﬁve (5) year intervals is expected. Participation in

courses and programs sponsored by recognized continuing education providers affords a

credible mechanism to support continuing competence and acceptable standards of quality

in practice. The continuing education clock hour credits associated with these activities must

align with the knowledge, skills, and ability addressed by the certiﬁcation examination.

CRCC will make every reasonable effort to send notiﬁcation of a certiﬁcant’s ability to

begin the renewal process. However, it is the individual’s responsibility to re-certify at the

appropriate time. Failure to receive notiﬁcation of renewal is not considered grounds for an

extension.

Continuing Education

All CRCs must document 100 clock hours of approved continuing education, ten (10) of which

must be in the area of ethics, during the period of their current certiﬁcation or re-take the

certiﬁcation examination and achieve a passing score. Information on continuing education

can be found in the Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Certiﬁcation Renewal Guide.

Proﬁle Updates

CRCC urges all certiﬁcants to update their contact information in the CRCC website by

making any changes necessary to ensure prompt delivery of communications (electronic

and/or mail).

To update proﬁle information, certiﬁcants can access My CRCC Links through the CRCC

Connect portal on the home page. Locations for updates include:

• “My Contact Information”

• “My Expertise and Languages”

• “My Contact Details” - Click on “Edit Demographics” to update job title, employment

setting, and licensure

Effective March 31, 2022

The option to renew the CRC certiﬁcation by exam is no longer available. Therefore,

candidates will need to complete their continuing education hours in order to renew their

certiﬁcation.

View the Certiﬁed Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Certiﬁcation Renewal Guide for additional

details.

Section 16: Certiﬁcation Renewal

Certiﬁcation Fee $420

The certiﬁcation application fee, which includes the cost of the examination, is submitted at

the time of application. The candidate must sit for the exam during the exam window on their

application. If deferred, see “Deferral” below. A refund of $75 will be issued to candidates

deemed ineligible.

Re-Examination (Retake) Fee $250

This fee must be paid by candidates who do not achieve a passing score on the certiﬁcation

exam on the ﬁrst exam window. Applicants are allowed to take the exam once during the 10-

day exam window.

A re-examination (retake) can only occur at the next subsequent exam window date. An

examination retake fee must also be paid by candidates who are not seated for a scheduled

appointment due to invalid identiﬁcation, late arrival, who do not appear (no show) for

their appointment, or who cancel a scheduled appointment 48 hours or less prior to their

scheduled appointment. Applications will automatically close for individuals in their second

testing window who do not appear (no show) for their appointment, and they will have to

submit a new application if they wish to sit for the examination again.

Exam Deferral $100

Only initial candidates are allowed to defer or transfer to the next subsequent exam window.

Category 3 Eligibility $85

Pre-review service fee

Certiﬁcation Renewal Fee $405

See the Certiﬁcation Renewal Guide for more information.

CRC/Retired Designation Fee $100

See the Certiﬁcation Renewal Guide for more information.

Handling Fee for Returned Checks $45

Must be paid for checks returned for non-sufﬁcient funds (NSF) or closed accounts.

Certiﬁcation Veriﬁcation Fee

For use in documenting certiﬁcation status for other organizations/agencies.

Email Certiﬁcation Veriﬁcation (System Generated) $35

Written (via US Mail) $45

Expedited $60

Replacement Certiﬁcate

(Except at renewal time) $40

Located in CRCC Connect account under My CRCC Links

All fees are subject to change, non-refundable, and must be paid in U.S. dollars. Payment can be made

online via credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) or in the form of an electronic

check or money order. Checks should be made payable to “CRCC.”

Section 17: Fees

CRCC

1501 Woodﬁeld Road, Suite 105E

Schaumburg, IL 60173

847-944-1325

contactus@crccertiﬁcation.com