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Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists

Typical education: Master's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Provide therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities. May train patients in activities such as computer use, communication skills, or home management skills.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $100,330 Median per year · $48.24/hr Most earn $71,690–$131,950

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Monitor clients' progress to determine whether changes in rehabilitation plans are needed.
  • Administer tests and interpret test results to develop rehabilitation plans for clients.
  • Collaborate with specialists, such as rehabilitation counselors, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, to provide client solutions.
  • Train clients to use adaptive equipment, such as large print, reading stands, lamps, writing implements, software, and electronic devices.
  • Recommend appropriate mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, long canes, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
  • Train clients with visual impairments to use mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
15% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 10,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists27.6%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals20.2%
  • Elementary and secondary schools12.0%
  • Home healthcare services7.9%
  • Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)7.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists usually need a master's degree, so this is not a job you start straight out of high school. Most people spend about 4 years on a bachelor's degree, then about 2 years on a master's, and often gain a few months of supervised hands-on experience along the way.

  1. Bachelor's degree in psychology, special education, rehabilitation, or a related field

    4 years

    You build a foundation in how people learn, communicate, and live with disabilities, and you can take courses that count toward a graduate program.

  2. Rehabilitation Aide or Direct Support Professional

    3-6 months

    You work hands-on with people who have disabilities, which shows graduate programs you understand the work and helps you practice teaching daily living skills.

  3. Master's degree in orientation and mobility or vision rehabilitation

    About 2 years

    You learn low vision assessment, mobility and independent living training, and supervised clinical work, which prepares you for licensing or certification in your state.

  4. Vision Rehabilitation Therapist

    Career entry

    You help people with visual impairments build skills for daily life, such as using technology, moving safely, and managing their home.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Vision Rehabilitation Therapist

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex cases, mentor newer therapists, and may handle training or program planning; exact requirements vary by employer.

  2. Rehabilitation Counselor

    1-2 years of experience first

    You shift from teaching skills to helping clients plan careers, find jobs, and reach larger goals, which often builds on a master's degree in counseling or rehabilitation.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, psychology, and health classesThese courses introduce how the eyes and body work and how people adapt to disabilities, which is useful background for graduate study later.
  • Volunteer with people who have disabilitiesHands-on time with people who have disabilities shows you what the work involves and builds experience for future applications.
  • Join a service or peer-helper clubClubs that help others build teamwork and communication skills, which you will use every day as a therapist.
  • Get a starter job in a care or customer-service settingWorking with the public builds patience, clear communication, and comfort with helping people learn new skills.

In college

  • Choose a major in psychology, special education, or rehabilitation studiesThese majors cover disability, learning, and helping people build skills, which are the core ideas behind vision rehabilitation work.
  • Take courses in anatomy, physiology, or human developmentGraduate programs in this field expect a solid understanding of the body and how people grow and change, including the visual system.
  • Work or volunteer as a rehabilitation aide or in disability servicesPaid or volunteer hours with people who have disabilities give you experience that graduate programs and employers look for.
  • Build strong communication and teaching skillsTutoring, peer mentoring, or leading a campus group helps you explain new skills clearly, which is central to training clients.

Tips for getting started

  • Get experience with people who have disabilities early, such as volunteering or working in a care setting, since graduate programs and employers look for it.
  • Ask a vision rehabilitation therapist or orientation and mobility specialist for an informational interview to learn what the daily work looks like.
  • Check your state's licensing or certification rules now, since they shape which master's program and experience you will need.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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