Penfield College Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Students Perfect on Certification Exams

494
Atlanta Jesse Mercer statue

ATLANTA – Students in Mercer University’s Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program in Penfield College obtained a 100-percent pass rate on the March administration of the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam.

The CRC Exam is designed to assist in the assurance that professionals engaged in rehabilitation counseling meet acceptable standards of quality in practice. Professionals with this certification possess the specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to collaborate in a professional relationship with people who have physical, mental, developmental, cognitive and/or emotional disabilities.

Nationwide, 533 candidates took the exam in March, and 311 passed, resulting in a 58-percent pass rate. Of those, 496 were first-time candidates, of whom 291 passed, resulting in a 59-percent first-time pass rate.

“I am proud of our students’ achievement and of their commitment to a career in rehabilitation counseling,” said Dr. Priscilla Danheiser, dean of Penfield College. “These extraordinary results serve to underscore the quality of Mercer’s graduate programs in counseling and to recognize those programs for excellence in teaching and learning.”

“I am incredibly proud of the students and their hard work and dedication,” added Dr. Kristina Henderson, assistant professor and coordinator of the M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Program.

Mercer’s M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is offered on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta.

The program prepares candidates to provide rehabilitation services aimed at helping individuals with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential. The program empowers individuals to make informed choices, to help individuals achieve positive mental health, and to maximize opportunities for economic independence.

In addition to the national certification in rehabilitation counseling, the program prepares individuals for licensure through the Georgia State Board of Examiners and includes an intensive internship experience for students through client interaction under supervision.

Individuals who successfully complete the program are prepared to work in a variety of settings such as Veterans Administration, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, rehabilitation hospitals, insurance companies, correction centers, juvenile justice, mental health agencies and other human service agencies.

Mercer was awarded a five-year Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) grant by the U.S. Department of Education in 2015 to support scholarships for students recruited for the program.

For more information, click here.

About Penfield College of Mercer University

Penfield College of Mercer University, established as the College of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2003, is committed to serving non-traditional learners and currently enrolls more than 1,300 students. Undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered to working adult learners seeking professional advancement into leadership roles in and beyond their communities. Educational programs provide students with distinctive, multidisciplinary programs that integrate theory and practice. The College offers general education and elective courses for various colleges and schools at Mercer. Another initiative called the Bridge program transitions students enrolled in Mercer’s English Language Institute and other international students to undergraduate programs throughout the University. Areas of study include organizational leadership, counseling, human services, human resources, informatics, criminal justice leadership, nursing preparation, liberal studies, psychology, communication, homeland security and emergency management, and healthcare leadership. Programs are offered on Mercer’s campuses in Atlanta and Macon, as well as multiple regional academic centers in Douglas County, Henry County and online. To learn more, visit penfield.mercer.edu.