Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Salary

$60,538.00 - $92,010.00 Annually

Location

Centre County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-55701-44831

Department

Department of Labor & Industry

Division

LI BVRS Altoona Dstr Off

Opening Date

08/06/2026

Closing Date

8/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

44831

Position Number

00017999

Union

SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit

F4

Pay Group

ST07

Bureau / Division Code

00126265

Bureau / Division

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Altoona District Office

Worksite Address

1130 12th Avenue, Suite 500

City

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

16601

Contact Name

Meshal Ghori

Contact Email

mghori@pa.gov

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

THE POSITION

Become a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and help empower individuals with disabilities to live and work independently in their communities! As part of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, you will apply your understanding and knowledge of vocational rehabilitation services to help the people we serve find and keep gainful employment. This role is part of our Altoona District Office, in Blair County, and serves a caseload coverage area in Center County. We help people discover new paths and build confidence as they work towards their goals. Apply now to experience the satisfaction of public service while enjoying professional career growth and changing lives with us!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position focuses on connecting with vocational rehabilitation customers and coordinating comprehensive services to help individuals with disabilities make and achieve employment goals. Work involves gathering information, collaborating with customers and other professionals, and serving as a steady, supportive resource. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Referral Development: Collaborate and build relationships with community sources in an assigned area to identify potential vocational rehabilitation customers
• Applicant Interviews: Conduct comprehensive face-to-face interviews with potential customers to gather details about their disabling condition, education and work history, and other relevant data
• Eligibility Determination: Evaluate data to determine each person's eligibility for vocational rehabilitation based on law and policy, professional judgment, consultation with other professionals, and the customer's participation; explain requirements, rules, rights, and next steps
• Plan Coordination: Work with the customer to identify their vocational goals and establish an individualized plan for employment; arrange for and coordinate plan related services and expenditures; monitor, evaluate, and document customer progress
• Job Counseling: Provide support and help customers develop soft skills, connect with job openings, and develop positive employer relationships
• Progress Documentation: Prepare case records and reports; update notes, service information, and required forms within our web-based system to maintain electronic casefiles.

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, with a 30-miute lunch

• 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 Altoona. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.

• Note: The headquarters office location for this position is in Blair County and the caseload coverage area is in Center 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.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

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.

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!

See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator.

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning

We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance

We know there's more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*

Values and Culture

We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks

Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.

• Eligibility rules apply.

01

You must complete the supplemental question(s) below. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental question(s). Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental question(s) is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty.

Read the question(s) carefully. Determine and select the option that most closely represents your highest level of experience/training/certification. The option you choose must be clearly supported if requested.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

• Yes

02

Have you successfully completed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern program or the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee program?

• Yes
• No

03

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

04

Do you have a conferred masters degree, or are you within three months of completing a masters degree, in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, business administration, human resources, public administration, or a closely related field?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.

You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.

• Yes
• No

05

If you do not have a conferred masters degree in vocational rehabilitation, mental health, special education, social work, human services, psychology, business administration, human resources, public administration, or a closely related field, on what date do you expect to receive your degree? (Type N/A in the text box if this does not apply).

06

Do you possess an active Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Certificate issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification?

If you answered yes, please upload a copy of your certification. Upload your certification using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add your certification to the application after it has been submitted.

• Yes
• No

07

Are you eligible to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification examination?

If you answered yes, please upload a copy of your proof of approval to sit for the CRCC examination. Upload the required proof using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add your certification to the application after it has been submitted.

• Yes
• No

08

Have you completed a master's degree in any major?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.

You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website http://www.employment.pa.gov