Rehabilitation Counselor Degree Type as a Predictor of Client Outcomes: A Comparison of Quantity Versus Quality in Closure Rates
Abstract
Closure rates (CR) of counselors with a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling (MRC) and master’s degrees in related disciplines (RM) were compared. High-quality closure rates (HQCR) were also compared, defined as CR for full-time jobs that paid a living wage. Analyses examined all counselors and, separately, only those with 6 or fewer years of experience. Last, analyses examined if disability severity predicts HQCR. Eighty-nine counselors completed a survey assessing their educational background. These data were linked to outcomes of 13,460 clients. CR of MRC and RM counselors did not differ. However, MRC counselors had higher HQCR (p =.034), higher living-wage closure rate (LWCR; p =.025), and almost higher full-time job closure rate (FTCR; p =.066). MRC-RM comparisons using only counselors with 6 or fewer years of experience were also significant (all ps <.05) and, importantly, showed even stronger effects. Also, although clients with most-severe disabilities had lower CR (p =.029), they had much lower HQCR, LWCR, and FTCR (all ps <.001). Although CR does not differ between MRC and RM counselors, MRC counselors are more likely to secure high-quality jobs for clients. Also, clients with most-severe disabilities are more likely to be placed in lower quality jobs. Implications for hiring rehabilitation counselors are discussed.
Publication Title
Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin
Recommended Citation
Mackay, M., Dunn, J., Suedmeyer, E., Schiro-Geist, C., Strohmer, D., & West, S. (2020). Rehabilitation Counselor Degree Type as a Predictor of Client Outcomes: A Comparison of Quantity Versus Quality in Closure Rates. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 63 (2), 91-101. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355218806378
