CORE (Council on Rehabilitation Education) is a specialized accreditation organization that is recognized
by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a member of the Association of Specialized
and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). CORE accredits graduate programs which provide academic
preparation for a variety of professional rehabilitation counseling positions. CORE also accredits
undergraduate programs in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. The undergraduate Registry includes
programs that meet curriculum and outcome standards and guidelines for undergraduate programs
in rehabilitation. Undergraduate programs in the United States and Puerto Rico will remain on
the Registry until October 1, 2017 during which time they will be given an opportunity to become
accredited. CORE will no longer accept applications to the Registry after July 1, 2012.
Structure and Functions
In 1969, a group of rehabilitation professionals met to discuss the need for accreditation of rehabilitation
counselor education (RCE) programs. After 2 years of planning, the Council on Rehabilitation Education
(CORE) was formed in 1971 and incorporated in 1972. Five professional rehabilitation organizations
were represented on CORE:
• American Rehabilitation Association (ARA), formerly the International Association of Rehabilitation
Facilities
• American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA)
• Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)
• National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE), formerly the Council of Rehabilitation Counselor
Educators
• National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA)
Today, these five organizations—except ARA, which has been replaced by the National Council of State
Agencies of the Blind (NCSAB) and two public members—comprise CORE and as such represent the
professional and organizational constituencies concerned with the training, evaluation, and employment
of rehabilitation counselors.
CORE accredits approximately 96 university and college-based rehabilitation counselor education
programs at the master’s degree level. Accreditation serves to promote the effective delivery of
rehabilitation services to people with disabilities by stimulating and fostering continual review and
improvement of master’s degree rehabilitation counselor education programs. CORE also accredits,
via the Commission on Undergraduate Standards and Accreditation, two undergraduate programs in
Rehabilitation Services and Disability Studies. There are 27 undergraduate programs in Rehabilitation
Services and Disability Studies that are on the CORE registry, which will stop accepting applications on
July 1, 2012.
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Purpose and Responsibilities
Each new rehabilitation counseling program is assessed in accordance with the Standards for
Rehabilitation Counselor Education Programs, published by CORE, and accredited programs are
periodically reviewed to ensure that they remain in substantial compliance. The Standards are not
intended to limit program creativity or limit variability; programs may adopt innovative procedures or
experiences that meet the Standards in a different manner.
As stated in its bylaws, the mission of CORE is the accreditation of rehabilitation counseling programs to
promote the effective delivery of rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities by promoting and
fostering continuing review and improvement of master’s degree-level RCE programs. It may also serve
to assist and advise in the development and refinement of university-based undergraduate rehabilitation
education programs. The accreditation process serves to:
• Promote a high standard of professional education in rehabilitation counseling and to foster program
development based on a vocationally oriented, service-to-people attitude
• Encourage sound educational experimentation and innovations and to stimulate continuous self-study
and improvement
• Reassess, redefine, and reevaluate program criteria as the needs of the profession and the public
change
• Evolve a consultative model for developing programs
• Review admissions and other requirements of RCE programs to ensure that all qualified applicants may
participate
• Foster mutual respect and cooperation between RCE programs and the programs of other helping
professions
• Emphasize the vocational aspect of services in the broader context of human development and thereby
help reduce dependency among all vulnerable consumer groups, especially individuals with the
most severe and multiple disabilities
• Meet the personnel needs of public and private rehabilitation agencies
• Publish periodically a roster of recognized programs for members of the profession, the public,
government agencies, and prospective students
• Enhance the position of mutual respect and acceptance of RCE programs in the academic community
and on campus
Develop an accreditation system based on the objective assessment of outcomes of the educational
program.
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Composition of CORE
The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) is composed of individuals appointed from CORE
sponsoring organizations and two public members. The public members represent the consumer
public and the public at large. The sponsoring organizations are professional organizations concerned
with rehabilitation counseling and include the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA),
the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), the National Council on Rehabilitation
Education (NCRE), the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), the
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP), and the National Council of State
Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB). All appointees are Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs), except
the public members, and are appointed to four-year terms. CORE appointees may serve two consecutive
terms. The last two members of CORE are the Chairs of the Undergraduate and Graduate Commissions of
CORE; these two individuals are also voting members of CORE.
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Composition of the Two Commission
The composition of the two Commissions of CORE are described on page 7-8 of the Graduate Accreditation Manual and page 7-9 of the Undergraduate Accreditation Manual.
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