Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Shenango Township (PA); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible after training

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the New Castle District Office to support Butler County clients. You will deliver a full range of vocational rehabilitation services to help individuals with disabilities pursue meaningful careers.

Responsibilities include interviews, plan development, eligibility decisions, service coordination, progress monitoring, and meticulous record management.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation or related field.
• Active or eligible CRCC certification.
• Ability to complete required clearances and comply with policies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive face-to-face interviews to assess applicants.
• Develop individualized plans for employment and coordinate services.
• Track progress and adjust plans to move customers toward employment.
• Maintain case notes and manage documentation in the system.

Skills

Communication skills

Interviewing

Record management

Education

Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation or related field

CRCC certification or eligibility

Tools

CRCC certification process

Job description

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

Location: Butler County, PA

Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number: CS-2026-61394-44831

Department: Department of Labor & Industry

Division: LI BVRS New Castle Dstr Off

Opening Date: 10/27/2026

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

Job Code: 44831

Position Number: 00074317

Union: SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit: F4

Pay Group: ST07

Bureau / Division Code: 00126265

Bureau / Division: Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - New Castle District Office

Worksite Address: 2656 Ellwood Road

City: New Castle, Pennsylvania

Zip Code: 16101

Contact Name: Kaleya Rivera Pena

Contact Email: [e-mail]

The Position

Do you want to help people with disabilities discover paths to employment and greater independence? Apply to be a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This role with our New Castle District Office will be part of the caseload coverage for Butler County. You will provide a full range of vocational rehabilitation services supporting individuals with disabilities as they work toward stable and rewarding careers. Become part of a team that opens doors to brighter futures!

Description of Work

This position provides vocational rehabilitation services that help individuals with disabilities prepare for and secure gainful employment. It creates connections with communities to ensure customers are identified and referred to our office, have input and agency in their vocational plan, and are linked to effective service providers. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Referral Engagement: Personally contact and maintain referral sources to ensure persons with disabilities who may qualify for services are identified
• Applicant Interviews: Conduct comprehensive face-to-face interviews to learn relevant information about each person and to explain service requirements, scope, and processes
• Eligibility Decisions: Review medical, vocational, and other client information assess each person's rehabilitation potential and determine their eligibility for services
• Plan Development: Work with customers to create an Individualized Plan for Employment; arrange for and approve expenditures; coordinate planned services
• Progress Monitoring: Track customer progress and adjust plans as needed to support movement toward employment
• Record Management: Write and enter case notes; review, enter, and customize letters communicating service authorization information

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 New Castle 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 Butler 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.

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 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.