Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services – Altoona District Office is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to assist individuals with disabilities in pursuing meaningful employment. You will guide clients through the vocational rehabilitation process, coordinate evaluations, and support job placement activities.

This full-time, hybrid role includes potential telework after training, a standard 37.5-hour week, and a starting salary of $60,538.00 per

Qualifications

• Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or a closely related field.
• Possession of an active CRCC certificate or eligibility to sit CRCC exam within three months of graduation.
• Intern/trainee program completion or equivalency as determined by Office of Administration.

Responsibilities

• Develop referral sources by building relationships with community partners.
• Conduct interviews to gather information on customer needs, backgrounds, and goals.
• Determine eligibility by reviewing medical, vocational, and psychosocial information.
• Coordinate services, authorize evaluations, and track progress to completion.
• Support employment goals by counseling customers, developing plans, and assisting with job placement.
• Maintain records by updating case notes and managing online files.

Skills

Interviewing

Case management

Record keeping

Relationship building

Education

Master's degree

CRCC certificate

CRCC exam eligibility

Intern/Trainee program

Job description

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Altoona District Office, you play a key part in helping individuals overcome barriers to employment. This role offers a rewarding opportunity to support personal growth and career success. Your efforts will help people build confidence and achieve their goals. Be part of an agency that promotes opportunity, inclusion, and positive change.

This position focuses on supporting individuals with disabilities as they work toward meaningful and sustainable employment. You will guide customers through each step of the vocational rehabilitation process and ensure they receive the services they need. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Develop Referral Sources: Build relationships with community partners to identify potential customers
• Conduct Interviews: Gather information about customer needs, backgrounds, and goals
• Determine Eligibility: Review medical, vocational, and psychosocial information to assess rehabilitation potential
• Coordinate Services: Arrange evaluations, authorize services, and track progress through completion
• Support Employment Goals: Counsel customers, develop plans, and assist with job placement activities
• Maintain Records: Update case notes, manage online files, and prepare required documentation

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 to 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).
• This position will serve Blair and Bedford Counties.
• 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 Altoona or an approved office in the caseload territory. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $60,538.00 (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
• A master's degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or a closely related field; 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.
• 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.