Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligibility

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to support students and adults with disabilities in preparing for, obtaining, or maintaining employment. You will assess applicants, develop individualized employment plans, and coordinate services to foster independence and opportunity.

Offering a full-time civil service position in Pittsburgh, the role includes potential telework after training.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, psychology, or a closely related field (within 3 months of graduation acceptable)
• Active Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRCC) certificate or eligibility to sit for CRCC exam with master’s degree
• Completion of VR Counselor Intern/Trainee program or equivalent Commonwealth/Federal title

Responsibilities

• Conduct face-to-face applicant interviews to collect disability, education, and employment history data
• Review medical and psychosocial information to assess vocational rehabilitation potential
• Develop an Individualized Plan for Employment with the customer
• Coordinate evaluations and services; provide ongoing counseling and guidance
• Maintain case records and follow up to support client success
• Build relationships with schools, employers, and service providers to expand referrals

Education

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

Active CRCC certificate

Completion of VR Counselor Intern/Trainee program or related Commonwealth/Federal title

Qualifying educational status within 3 months of graduation

Job description

Salary: $60,538.00 - $92,010.00 Annually

Location: Allegheny County, PA

Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number: CS-2026-58301-44831

Department: Department of Labor & Industry

Division: LI BVRS Pittsburgh Dstr Off

Opening Date: 09/14/2026

Closing Date: 9/27/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code: 44831

Position Number: Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.

Union: SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit: F4

Pay Group: ST07

Bureau / Division Code: 00126270

Bureau / Division: Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Pittsburgh District Office

Worksite Address: 531 Penn Avenue

City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Zip Code: 15222

Contact Name: Kaleya Rivera Pena

Contact Email: [e-mail]

THE POSITION

The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services is seeking Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors who are excited to help individuals reach their employment goals. This role supports students and adults with disabilities as they explore careers and build skills for the future. It offers a chance to make a real difference through guidance, encouragement, and personalized planning. Join a team where your dedication helps people achieve greater independence and opportunity.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position provides vocational guidance and individualized support to students and adults with disabilities as they prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Applicant Assessment: Conduct face-to-face interviews to gather information about disability, education, employment history, and other key factors
• Eligibility Evaluation: Review medical and psycho social information to decide an applicant's potential for vocational rehabilitation
• Plan Development: Work with customers to set vocational goals and create an Individualized Plan for Employment
• Service Coordination: Arrange evaluations, coordinate planned services, as well as provide counseling and guidance throughout the process
• Progress Monitoring: Maintain case records, document updates, and follow-up regularly to support customer success
• Community Liaison: Build relationships with schools, employers, and service providers to enhance referral sources and placement opportunities

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 minutes depending 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 Pittsburgh. 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.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

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 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.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• 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.