Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens

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The Rehabilitation Counselor duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides rehabilitation counseling services to Veterans with mental health and/or physical disabilities participating in vocational programs in the CWT components of services.
• Provides rehabilitation planning, problem solving counseling, adjustment counseling, motivational interviewing techniques, job seeking skills training, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions, case coordination services, evidence-based modalities, and provide supportive guidance throughout the employment or educational process, including discussion of strengths and weaknesses, the demands and responsibilities of holding a job or attending training, and problems related to vocational training, placement, and employment.
• Provides individual or group counseling sessions to provide program information, assistance, career development, or job seeking skills development.
• Conducts comprehensive initial evaluations, i.e. Vocational Assessment Profile (VAP).
• Assists veterans with determining vocational goals and objectives.
• Provides an appropriate range of assessment procedures including, when indicated, job shadowing, informational interviews, tests of specific job-related skills and abilities, aptitude testing, and vocational interest testing.
• Provides assessment and consultation reports that are timely, of good quality, and meet Joint Commission and CARF standards.
• Synthesizes assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications.
• Determines clinical need for and capacity to benefit from therapeutic and rehabilitation services to include: work restoration/resilience treatment, transitional work placement and compensation, supported employment, assistive technology, financial benefits counseling and potential benefits protections.
• Guides client through difficult transitions in the adjustment to employment or training
• Works closely with other services within the VA and other public and private agencies to ensure that the Veteran receives the full range of services necessary to achieve vocational rehabilitation goals.
• Develops and maintains liaison contacts and may serve as advocates for the Veteran with other public and private agencies, service providers, training facilities, employers, and other community resources who may promote the rehabilitation of program participants.
• Maintains contact with state vocational rehabilitation agencies/offices, private employers, state and local employment offices, and VA Regional Offices.
• Monitors the Transitional Work budget and provide reports to Supervisor as needed.

Work schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Virtual: This is nota virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Driver's License

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirement below within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

• Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Education. A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. OR A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). OR A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that 3 emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA. OR (4) Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).
• Certification. Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling.
  • Exceptions for Graduate RCs.
    • RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC, but do not possess the required certification, may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D).
    • Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
    • Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-09

Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals.
2. Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling.
3. Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan.
4. Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services.
5. Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement.
6. Knowledge of assessment tools and methods, functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills, residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology.

Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-11

Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
OR
Education. A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.g. rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community.
2. Knowledge of counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations, to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans.
3. Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS), customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness, adjustment to disability, enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community.
4. Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs, worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities.
5. Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests, aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan.
6. Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities.
7. Knowledge of military lifestyle, specific factors, and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work.

References: VA Handbook 5005/133, Part II, Appendix G62

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Preferred Experience: 2 years of experience providing vocational services with a CRC

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some occasional physical effort may be required. The incumbent may drive a government vehicle and will require a valid state driver's license. There may also be required attendance at out-of-state conferences and trainings that may require long-distance travel and overnight stays of several days.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.