Summary
A Rehabilitation Social Workers works in the development sector, running programmes that improve lives in communities with limited resources. In India this work sits inside the Rehabilitation Sciences stream: students usually take Science with Biology (PCB); some programmes accept any stream in Class 11–12, qualify through B.A.S.L.P. / B.Ed. Special Education / B.Sc. in the rehabilitation discipline, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Empathy and community rapport
- Proposal writing and reporting
- Data collection and evaluation
- Patience with slow systemic change
Where you can work
- NGOs and civil-society organisations
- CSR teams in corporates and foundations
- Government schemes and rural missions
- Multilateral and bilateral development agencies
Professional Opportunities
NGOs and civil-society organisations
CSR teams in corporates and foundations
Government schemes and rural missions
Multilateral and bilateral development agencies
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Science with Biology (PCB); some programmes accept any stream | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | B.A.S.L.P. / B.Ed. Special Education / B.Sc. in the rehabilitation discipline | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | M.A.S.L.P. / M.Ed. Special Education / M.Sc. | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | Ph.D., professional certifications, or senior practice in the field | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: B.A.S.L.P. / B.Ed. Special Education / B.Sc. in the rehabilitation discipline.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Inst. of Health Edu. and Research Health, Patna, Bihar | WT & PT | www.iiher.com/ |
| 1 | Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack-Orissa | CET | www.svnirtar.nic.in/ |
| 1 | Indian Institute of Teacher Education Centre of Education, Ramkrushna paramhans vidya sakul, Gandhinagar, Gujarat | 12th Merit | www.iite.ac.in/ |
| 2 | Pratibandhi Kalyan Kendra, Hooghly, West Bengal | WB-JENPAS UG | wbuhs.ac.in/ |
| 2 | Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi | 12th merit | www.iphnewdelhi.in/ |
| 2 | Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan | 12th Merit | www.jnvu.co.in/ |
| 3 | Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Allied Health Sci. - SRIHER, Chennai, T.N. | SRU-EE Group A | www.sriramachandra.edu.in/ |
| 3 | All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation(A.I.I.P.M.R), Mumbai, Maharashtra | NEET | aiipmr.gov.in/ |
| 3 | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Manikya lal Verma Shramjivi Evening College, JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Udaipur, Rajasthan | 12th Merit | www.jrnrvu.edu.in/ |
| 4 | SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Kancheepuram, T.N. | SRMJEEE (UG) | medical.srmist.edu.in/ |
| 4 | Chakradhara Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Bhubaneswar, Odisha | 12th merit | rehabsciences.org/ |
| 4 | Apex Institute of Special Education, Apex University, Jaipur, Rajasthan | 12th Merit | www.apexuniversity.co.in/ |
| 5 | Post Graduate Inst. of Medical Edu. and Research, Chandigarh | PGIMER-EE | pgimer.edu.in/ |
| 5 | National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Calcutta, West Bengal | CET | www.niohkol.nic.in/ |
| 5 | MJRP College of Education, Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur, Rajasthan | 12th Merit | mjrpuniversity.ac.in/ |
| 6 | Ntnl Inst. for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities, Kovalam, T.N. | NET | niepmd.tn.nic.in/ |
| 6 | Dr.Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (D.S.M.N.R.U.), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | DSMNRU-EE | dsmru.up.nic.in/ |
| 6 | Shyam University, Department of Special Education, Dausa, Rajasthan | 12th Merit | www.shyamuniversity.ac.in/department/department-of-special-education |
| 7 | Kasturba Medical College - MAHE, Mangalore, Karnataka | MET | manipal.edu/kmc-mangalore.html |
| 7 | Mobility India, Bangalore, Karnataka | 12th merit | mobility-india.org/ |
| 7 | The Institute of Chartered Financial Analyst of India (ICFAI) University, Mohanpur, Tripura | 12th Merit | iutripura.edu.in/ |
| 8 | College of Allied Health Sci. - MAHE, Manipal, Karnataka | MET | manipal.edu/soahs-manipal.html |
| 8 | Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Tamil Nadu | 12th merit | www.cmch-vellore.edu/ |
| 8 | Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | 12th Merit | www.amity.edu/lucknow/ |
| 9 | Inst. of Health Sci., Bhubaneswar, Odisha | IMAT | www.ihs.ac.in/ |
| 9 | Ishwar Institute of Prosthetics & Orthotics, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 12th merit | www.iipoinstitute.in/ |
| 9 | Amity University, Amity Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Noida, Uttar Pradesh | 12th Merit | www.amity.edu/airs/ |
| 10 | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha Uni., New Delhi | CUET-UG/ PARA-CET | www.ipu.ac.in/ |
| 10 | Mahatama Gandhi Mission Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | 12th merit | www.mgmuhs.com/ |
| 11 | Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Edu., Kanyakumari, T.N. | CUET-UG | www.niuniv.com/ |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University College London | United Kingdom | www.ucl.ac.uk/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Queensland | Australia | www.uq.edu.au/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARA-CET | Paramedical Common Entrance Test | BASLP, BOT & BPO Programs across affiliated colleges of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha Uni., Delhi | www.ipu.ac.in/ |
| AIISH-ET | AIISH Entrance Test | B.ASLP Degree at AIISH, Mysore & NSCBMC, Jabalpur and other allied institutions | www.aiishmysore.in/ |
| PHARM UG, CET Optom, SLPCET, B.Sc. Nursing, BPTHCET | — | BASLP at Bharati Vidyapeeth Pune-Maharashtra | bvuniversity.edu.in/ |
| IMAT | Indian Medical Aptitude Test | BASLP at Institute of HealthSciences, Bhubaneshwar-Orissa | www.ihsindia.org/ |
| WB-JENPAS UG | West Bengal Joint Entrance for Nursing, Physiotherapy, Audiology at University of Health-UG | BASLP& BHA Degree Courses across Affiliated Colleges of West Bengal University of Health Sciences Kolkata | wbjeeb.nic.in/ |
| NET | National Entrance Test | BASLP Program at NIEPMD, Chennai | niepmd.tn.nic.in/ |
| SRU-EE Group A | SRU Entrance Exam | BASLP at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai | www.sriramachandra.edu.in/ |
| MET | Manipal Entrance Test | BASLP and other B.Sc. allied health sciences programs at MAHE, Multicampus | apply.manipal.edu/ |
| PGIMER-EE | PGIMER Entrance Exam | BSALP Program at PGIMER Chandigarh | pgimer.edu.in/ |
Work Description
- 01Assess community needs through surveys and field visits.
- 02Design and run programmes within donor budgets and timelines.
- 03Track indicators, outcomes and utilisation for reporting.
- 04Build partnerships with government, donors and local groups.
- 05Document case studies and impact evidence.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Meaningful, purpose-driven work
- Field exposure across diverse communities
- Growing CSR funding creates steady roles
Cons
- Project funding can be short-term
- Pay is lower than corporate equivalents
- Field postings can be remote and demanding
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Rehabilitation Social Workers matches your interests and aptitude.
Sources
© HBK Careers. Compiled in-house from official regulators, exam bodies and institute websites. Exam and institute records on this page are the same records used across the HBK handbook and exams pages.