Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern (College)

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern for the Pittsburgh District Office. This entry-level internship supports individuals with disabilities toward meaningful careers through hands-on client work and coordinated services.

Interns complete training and on-the-job experiences, with potential for promotion to a full counselor upon degree completion. The role serves Allegheny County and may include part-time telework after training.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in the final year of a master's degree program in vocational rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation education, or rehabilitation administration.
• Special Authorization by college/university for participation in Commonwealth's Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern Program.
• PA residency requirement is waived for this title.

Responsibilities

• Provide vocational rehabilitation services and assist clients with obtaining employment.
• Develop individualized rehabilitation plans and monitor progress.
• Coordinate evaluations, services, and authorizations with agency partners.
• Maintain client case notes and documentation in electronic systems.
• Offer counseling and promote soft skills development; refer clients to job openings.

Education

Masters degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling (in progress)

Job description

$46,827.00 - $70,592.00 Annually

Allegheny County, PA

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

CS-2026-61246-44825

Department of Labor & Industry

LI BVRS Pittsburgh Dstr Off

10/28/2026

11/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

44825

Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.

SEIU Local 668

F4

ST05

00126270

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Pittsburgh District Office

531 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

15222

Kaleya Rivera Pena

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

Are you searching for entry‑level specialized professional work supporting individuals with disabilities as they move toward rewarding careers? Join the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Pittsburgh District Office as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern. This position will help our team serve Allegheny County. Our internship program involves hands‑on work connecting with clients and coordinating individualized services designed to help people gain confidence, build skills, overcome challenges, and discover new opportunities for employment. Take the next step in your career with a team that creates brighter futures for the people we serve.

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 structured internship involves formal training and on‑the‑job experience providing vocational rehabilitation services to help individuals with disabilities secure and maintain meaningful employment. Work serves clients identified by specific agency partners within the coverage area as well as walk‑ins, call‑ins, and personal contact referrals. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern, you will learn and perform the following duties:

• Referral Outreach: Communicate and maintain contacts with local partners to ensure potential vocational rehabilitation participants are identified and referred to our office
• Customer Assessments: Conduct face‑to‑face interviews with applicants to understand their needs, explain program requirements and processes, and determine eligibility
• Case Management: Work with customers to develop individualized rehabilitation plans; monitor customer progress; and adjust plans to support success
• Service Coordination: Arrange evaluations, authorize expenditures, and coordinate service delivery
• Client Support: Provide counseling and promote soft skill development, refer customers to job openings, and follow up after job placement
• Documentation: Enter, write, and update detailed information, case notes, service authorizations, and correspondence in electronic file systems

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 Pittsburgh 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 Allegheny County.
• 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.