Artsmental health & social work

Rehabilitation Counsellor

Rehabilitation counsellors work with people with physical, mental or developmental disabilities to restore function, adapt to daily life and access community resources. In India they are employed in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, NGOs, schools and corporate employee-assistance programmes. Training combines psychology, counselling techniques and knowledge of disability services.

Salary range

₹3–12 LPA

Job growth

high

Work type

Hybrid (clinic, community outreach, school/hospital and remote counselling)

Paths to entry

3 routes

Actions for your grade

Choose subjects that build a foundation (biology/psychology if available, social sciences)
Attend workshops or webinars on counselling and disability rights
Start basic reading on mental health and counselling techniques

Actions for your grade

Choose subjects that build a foundation (biology/psychology if available, social sciences)
Attend workshops or webinars on counselling and disability rights
Start basic reading on mental health and counselling techniques

Your complete path from Grade 10 to Rehabilitation Counsellor

Every step you need — from now to your first job.

BA (Hons) Psychology / BSW → MA/MSc Clinical or Rehabilitation Psychology

Arts

Undergraduate psychology or social work gives the foundational knowledge; follow with a specialised master's or MPhil for clinical roles.

Now
Arts Stream
Exams
CUET UG
Degree
BA (Hons) Psychology or BSW (3 years) → MA/MSc Clinical or Rehabilitation Psychology (2 years)
Colleges
Tata Institute of Social Sciences · University of Delhi · Jamia Millia Islamia
Career
Rehabilitation Counsellor

MSc / MPhil / Doctoral clinical route (specialisation)

Any Stream

Top clinical programmes may use institute-specific tests; CAT is listed for alternative management/NGO leadership programmes.

Now
Any Stream Stream
Exams
CAT
Degree
MSc Clinical Psychology / MPhil Clinical Psychology / PhD (2–5 years depending on programme)
Colleges
Nimhans Bengaluru · Tata Institute of Social Sciences · National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
Career
Rehabilitation Counsellor

Diploma/Certificate & on-the-job training

Any Stream

Shorter diploma routes and internships can lead to entry-level roles in NGOs, hospitals and community programmes.

Now
Any Stream Stream
Exams
MHT CET
Degree
Diploma/Certificate in Rehabilitation Counselling or Community Rehabilitation (1–2 years)
Colleges
Niepid Hyderabad · Christ University Bengaluru · St Xaviers College Mumbai
Career
Rehabilitation Counsellor

Entrance exams

Exam	Eligibility	Difficulty	Window
MHT CET Maharashtra State CET Cell	Class 12 PCM (Maharashtra domicile preferred)	Medium	Apr-May
CUET UG NTA	Class 12 (any stream)	Medium	May-Jun
CAT IIMs	Bachelor's degree 50%+	Very Hard	Nov

Where to Study

Institutes known to offer this career pathway in India.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences

University of Delhi

Jamia Millia Islamia

Nimhans Bengaluru

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

Niepid Hyderabad

Christ University Bengaluru

St Xaviers College Mumbai

Recommendations only — verify eligibility, seat availability, and admission rules from official portals before applying.