Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

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

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to assist students and adults with disabilities in Berks and Schuylkill counties. The role guides career exploration, skill-building, and personalized planning to help manage employment goals.

The position involves interviewing applicants, evaluating eligibility, developing plans for employment, coordinating services, monitoring progress, and liaising with community partners to expand placement opportunities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, or related field.
• CRCC certification or eligibility to sit for the CRCC exam and professional licensure is preferred.
• Applicants may be within 3 months of graduating to meet educational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct face-to-face interviews to gather information about disability, education, and employment history.
• Review medical and psycho-social information to evaluate vocational rehabilitation potential.
• Develop an Individualized Plan for Employment with customers.
• Coordinate evaluations and services and provide ongoing counseling and guidance.
• Maintain case records, document updates, and follow up to support success.
• Build relationships with customers, providers, employers, and community groups to improve referrals and placements.

Education

Master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation or related field

CRCC certification or eligible to sit for exam

Job description

The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor who is excited to help individuals reach their employment goals throughout Berks and Schuylkill counties. 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.

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 customers, providers, employers, and community groups 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, 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).
• Note: This position provides coverage for Berks and Schuylkill counties.
• 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 Reading 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
• 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.

• 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.