Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 59,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to help individuals with disabilities build confident paths to meaningful work. You will guide clients as they discover strengths and prepare for employment, documenting progress and coordinating services.

Key duties include referral development, client interviews, plan development for employment, progress monitoring, job placement support, and maintaining case records in online systems.

Qualifications

• Completion of VR Counselor Intern or Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent)
• Active CRCC certification or eligibility and master's degree
• Master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation or closely related field
• Applicants may meet education requirements within 3 months of graduating

Responsibilities

• Referral development: Build referral sources and gather preliminary information to identify potential customers
• Applicant assessment: Interview and review medical and vocational information to evaluate rehabilitation potential
• Plan development: Create and approve Individualized Plans for Employment
• Progress monitoring: Track customer progress and adjust rehabilitation plans
• Job placement support: Promote readiness and connect customers to openings
• Case documentation: Prepare case records and update online systems

Skills

Communication

Interviewing

Assessment

Plan development

Education

CRCC certification

Master’s degree in related field

Intern/Trainee program

Graduation within 3 months

Job description

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Labor & Industry, you will help people build confident paths to meaningful work. This role gives you the chance to guide individuals with disabilities as they discover their strengths and prepare for employment. Your support will make a lasting impact on their journey to independence and success.

This position plays a key role in helping individuals with disabilities explore career options and gain the skills needed for employment. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Referral Development: Build referral sources and gather preliminary information to identify potential customers
• Applicant Assessment: Conduct interviews and review medical and vocational information to evaluate rehabilitation potential
• Plan Development: Work with customers to create and approve Individualized Plans for Employment that support career goals
• Progress Monitoring: Track customer progress and adjust rehabilitation plans to improve opportunities for success
• Job Placement Support: Promote job readiness, connect customers to openings, and maintain employer relationships
• Case Documentation: Prepare case records, update online systems, and ensure accurate service authorizations

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

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Work hours are negotiable - 7.5 hour workday and lunch period is 30 minutes or 60 minutesdepending on work hours. AWS (alternate work schedule) may be available.
• Telework:You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, after 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 Norristown. 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 $66,074.00 (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
• 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 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waivedfor 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 oncefor this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.