Survey on Professional Development and Maintenance of Vocational Rehabilitation Practitioners in Japan

Vocational rehabilitation practitioners must recognize its significance and assume accountability. This study explored the perceptions of vocational rehabilitation practitioners in Japan regarding their professional development and obtained basic data for improving the vocational rehabilitation system in Japan. An online survey was conducted among practitioners at 336 Employment and Livelihood Support Centers for persons with disabilities, inquiring about their engagement with research, current educational pursuits, and training needs. In total, 155 practitioners responded to the survey. The results suggest that practitioners progressively refine their expertise as they accumulate experience. The study underscores the necessity of integrating research and practice, recommending the adoption of a knowledge translation framework to facilitate this process. In addition, effective use of online training is considered useful for establishing a training system. This data serves as a foundation for building training systems currently under consideration and provides insight into informal peer-to-peer training and involvement in professional associations.