Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern (College)

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Laureldale (Berks County); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework option

Public service environment

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is offering a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern position serving Berks and Schuylkill counties. You will gain hands-on experience helping individuals with disabilities access vocational services and plan career paths under supervision.

Successful interns may be promoted to a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor after completing the internship and degree requirements, in a supportive, growth‑oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in the final year of a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation education, or rehabilitation administration.

Responsibilities

• Build referral sources to bring potential clients into vocational rehabilitation services.
• Coordinate vocational rehabilitation supports that meet each customer's needs.
• Guide career planning by helping individuals explore options and set goals.
• Provide counseling guidance to encourage progress toward skill development and independence.
• Assist job placement by helping customers locate and secure suitable employment.

Education

Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling

Job description

Job Details

Salary: $46,827.00 - $70,592.00 Annually

Location: Berks County, PA

Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number: CS-2026-61367-44825

Department: Department of Labor & Industry

Division: LI BVRS Reading Dstr Off

Opening Date: 10/28/2026

Closing Date: 11/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code: 44825

Position Number: 00183452

Union: SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit: F4

Pay Group: ST05

Bureau / Division Code: 00126225

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

Worksite Address: 3602 Kutztown Road, Suite 200

City: Reading, Pennsylvania

Zip Code: 19605

Contact Name: Moureen Gunyanyi

Contact Email: [e-mail]

Position

Step into a meaningful role as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This opportunity allows you to support individuals throughout Berks and Schuylkill counties as they work toward their personal and professional goals. You will gain valuable hands‑on experience while making a positive difference in your community. Join an agency that values growth, service, and compassion!

Upon successful completion of the internship and the degree or certificate program, interns will be eligible for promotion as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.

Description of Work

This internship provides structured training that prepares you to help individuals with disabilities develop goals and access vocational services. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern, you will perform the following duties:

• Build Referral Sources: Identify and maintain connections that help bring potential customers into vocational rehabilitation services
• Coordinate Services: Arrange vocational rehabilitation supports that meet each customer needs
• Guide Career Planning: Help individuals explore options and outline appropriate vocational goals
• Support Counseling: Provide guidance that encourages progress toward skill development and independence
• Assist Job Placement: Work with customers to locate and secure suitable employment opportunities

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 $46,827.00 (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:

• Current enrollment in the final year of a master's degree program in vocational rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation education, or rehabilitation administration.

Special Requirement:

• Authorization by the college or university for the student to participate in the Commonwealth's Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern Program. Upon entering the internship, the student must be enrolled in the final semester of the appropriate master's degree program.

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.