Michael Shahnasarian, Ph.D.
Michael Shahnasarian, Ph.D., is president of Career
Consultants of America, Inc., a private practice he founded
in Tampa, Florida, in 1986. The practice provides services
related to vocational rehabilitation and career development,
rehabilitation psychology, human resources consulting, and
life care planning. Additionally, Dr. Shahnasarian has
provided expert witness services on vocational, life care
planning, and rehabilitation psychology issues throughout
the United States and abroad.
After completing undergraduate studies in psychology at
Indiana University and a master’s degree in psychology
at Texas A&M University, Dr. Shahnasarian earned a
doctorate in counseling psychology at Florida State
University. A licensed psychologist, he also holds board
certifications as a rehabilitation counselor, vocational
evaluator, career counselor, and life care planner.
Three organizations — the American Psychological
Association, the National Career Development Association and
the International Association of Life Care Planners —
appointed Dr. Shahnasarian fellow status. He
has received multiple awards that include selection as
Rehabilitation Counselor of the Year in 1999 by the American
Rehabilitation Counselor Association, and Outstanding Career
Practitioner of the Year in 2002 by the National Career
Development Association. The National Rehabilitation
Association presented Dr. Shahnasarian the W.F. Faulkes
Award in 2005 for his research and development of the
Earning Capacity Assessment Form, a validated measure
vocational evaluators use to assess claims of loss of
earning capacity. He has received many other national,
state, and local awards (please refer to Dr. Shahnasarian's
curriculum vitae).
Leadership in professional and civic organizations has also
been a feature of Dr. Shahnasarian’s career
development. He served as 1998 president of the National
Career Development Association, a 10,000-member professional
organization established in 1913. Former Florida Governor
Lawton Chiles appointed Dr. Shahnasarian to the Florida
Rehabilitation Council in 1998, and former Florida Governor
Jeb Bush reappointed him in 2000. His record also includes
service on numerous editorial boards, presentation at
national and international conferences, and membership on
boards of directors.
Curriculum Vitae
American Psychological Association Division 17 Fellow
Statement