Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; McCandless (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to support individuals with disabilities in Allegheny County through vocational services and case management. You will connect with clients, coordinate services, and promote client independence and employment opportunities.

Responsibilities include outreach, assessments, plan development, and service coordination, with partial telework possible after training.

Qualifications

• Completion of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern or Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent) or
• Possession of an active CRCC certificate issued by the CRCC; or
• Proof of approval to sit for the CRCC certification exam with master’s degree; or
• A master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Communicate and maintain contacts with local partners to identify and refer potential participants.
• Conduct face-to-face interviews to assess needs, explain requirements, and determine eligibility.
• Develop individualized rehabilitation plans and monitor progress; adjust as needed.
• Arrange evaluations, authorize expenditures, and coordinate service delivery.

Skills

Referral outreach

Client interviews

Case management

Documentation

Education

Master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or closely related field

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRCC) certification or eligibility to sit for the CRCC exam

Job description

Are you searching for the chance to support individuals with disabilities as they move toward rewarding careers? Join the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Pittsburgh District Office as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. This position will help our team serve Allegheny County. Work involves connecting with clients and coordinating individualized services designed to help people gain confidence, build skills, overcome challenges, and discover new opportunities for employment. Take the next step in your career with a team that creates brighter futures for the people we serve.

This position focuses on providing vocational rehabilitation services to help individuals with disabilities secure and maintain meaningful employment. Work serves clients identified by specific agency partners within the coverage area as well as walk‑ins, call‑ins, and personal contact referrals. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Referral Outreach: Communicate and maintain contacts with local partners to ensure potential vocational rehabilitation participants are identified and referred to our office
• Customer Assessments: Conduct face‑to‑face interviews with applicants to understand their needs, explain program requirements and processes, and determine eligibility
• Case Management: Work with customers to develop individualized rehabilitation plans; monitor customer progress; and adjust plans to support success
• Service Coordination: Arrange evaluations, authorize expenditures, and coordinate service delivery
• Client Support: Provide counseling and promote soft skill development, refer customers to job openings, and follow up after job placement
• Documentation: Enter, write, and update detailed information, case notes, service authorizations, and correspondence in electronic file systems

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM with a 30‑minute lunch. Work schedule may be negotiable within a 7.5 hour work day. The position is eligible for AWS (alternate work schedule).
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part‑time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high‑speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Pittsburgh or an approved office in the caseload coverage area territory. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Note: This position will serve Allegheny County.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $60,538 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern program or the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Possession of an active Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certificate issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or
• Proof of approval to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification examination, provided by the CRCC, and completion of a master’s degree; or
• A master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or a closely related field.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • Your score may be lower than deserved.
  • You may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.