CRC Exam Overview

While the sections below provide a summary of the various CRC Exam components, please refer to the CRC Certification Guide for complete exam information and details.

CRC Exam Structure

The CRC Exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions administered during an allotted 3 ½ hours within an 8-day testing window. Candidates should set aside four hours, which includes time for check-in, instructions, and a practice session on the computer in order for candidates to become familiar with the computer system.

CRC Exam Content

The CRC Exam is comprised of questions across twelve (12) knowledge domains underlying rehabilitation counseling.  Additionally, each of the twelve domains are further divided into subdomains.  The titles of the domains and subdomains are:

Career Counseling and Assessment

Theories of career development and work adjustment
Tests and evaluation techniques for assessing clients
Psychometric concepts related to measurement
Interpretation of assessment results for rehabilitation planning purposes
Computer and Internet-based career resources
Transferable skills analysis
Assistive technology

Job Development and Placement Services

Vocational implications of functional limitations
Job readiness including seeking and retention skills
Techniques used to conduct labor market surveys
Occupational and labor market information
Job-matching strategies
Employer development for job placement
Employment support services
Employment settings

Vocational Consultation and Services for Employers

Employer practices that affect the employment or return to work of individuals with disabilities
Marketing rehabilitation services and benefits for employers
Educating employers on disability-related issues
Disability prevention and management strategies
Job analysis and/or job description development
Job modification, accommodation, and restructuring including ergonomic assessment
Work conditioning or work hardening resources and strategies

Case and Caseload Management

Case management process including time management and prioritization, rehabilitation planning, service coordination, and referral to and collaboration with other disciplines

Principles of caseload management including case recording and documentation
Professional roles, responsibilities, functions, and relationships with clients and other human service providers
Negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolutions strategies
Techniques for working effectively in teams across disciplines

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling theories
Individual counseling practices and interventions
Behavior and personality theory
Human growth and development
Multicultural counseling theories and practices related to individual counseling

Group and Family Counseling

Family counseling theories
Family counseling practices and interventions
Group counseling theories
Group counseling practices and interventions
Multicultural counseling theories and practices related to family and group counseling

Mental Health Counseling

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
Rehabilitation techniques for individuals with psychiatric disabilities
Multicultural counseling theories and practices related to mental health counseling
Medications as they apply to individuals with psychiatric disabilities
Dual diagnosis
Substance abuse
Treatment planning
Wellness and illness prevention concepts and strategies

Psychosocial and Cultural Issues in Counseling

Individual and family adjustment to disability
Psychosocial and cultural impact of disability on the individual
Psychosocial and cultural impact of disability on the family
Attitudinal barriers for individuals with disabilities
Societal issues, trends, developments as they relate to rehabilitation
Working with individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds
Working with individuals with English as a second language
Gender issues
Human sexuality and disability issues

Medical, Functional, and Environmental Aspects of Disabilities

Medical aspects and implications of various disabilities
Medical terminology
Medications as they relate to vocational goals and outcomes
Functional capabilities of individuals with physical, psychiatric, and/or cognitive disabilities
Environmental barriers for individuals with disabilities
Rehabilitation terminology and concepts

Foundations, Ethics, and Professional Issues

Philosophical foundations of rehabilitation
Legislation or laws affecting individuals with disabilities
Ethical decision-making models and processes
Ethical standards for rehabilitation counselors
Advocacy for individuals with disabilities
Theories and techniques for providing clinical supervision
Interpretation and application of research findings
Evaluation procedures for assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation services, programs, and outcomes

Rehabilitation Services and Resources

Financial support/funding resources for rehabilitation services and programs
Organizations/programs providing rehabilitation services
Community referral resources and services for rehabilitation planning
Services available from one-stop career centers
Services available relating to ergonomics, assistive technology, kinesiology, and rehabilitation engineering
Services available through client advocacy programs
Programs for specialty populations
Forensic rehabilitation services

Health Care and Disability Systems

Managed care concepts
Insurance programs
Health care benefits
Workers' compensation laws and practices
Social Security programs, benefits, work incentives, and disincentives

CRC Exam Scoring

The CRC Exam is scored using a conjunctive scoring model whereby the examination is divided into two parts. One part tests knowledge with regard to counseling and the other part tests knowledge with regard to rehabilitation and disability issues. Candidates must achieve a passing score on both parts in order to pass the examination as a whole. Those who pass will receive a letter indicating such status. Those who do not pass will receive a report of their scores along with diagnostic information that can be used for further study.

CRC Exam Results

CRC Exam results are mailed via U.S. Postal Service approximately 5 weeks after the last date in the testing window.  Examination results cannot be released over the phone or by electronic communication. For specific notification dates, please refer to the current CRC Exam Schedule.

Please note:  Students who meet all Category G requirements may sit for the CRC Exam.  However, the examination results will be released only when the commission receives an official transcript indicating that a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling has been granted.  This transcript must reflect the successful completion of a 600-hour internship in rehabilitation counseling.