Rehabilitation Counselor

MAJOR DUTIES:

-Provide personal adjustment counseling, therapeutic rehabilitation interventions and case coordination services, utilizing evidence-informed and evidence-based modalities to aid Veterans with severe disabilities in achieving competitive employment and educational and independent living goals.

-Conduct biopsychosocial assessments using medical records, pertinent disability documentation, observation and interviews with Veterans and their support systems to generate personal, vocational, and educational histories.

-Customize vocational exploration activities for identification of self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals.

-Synthesize assessment information to identify barriers to employment and their vocational implications.

-Complete interpretive data reports. Provide disability education and program specific training to staff and stakeholders.

-Participate in program evaluation and improvement efforts, especially for accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

-Accept additional assignments as determined by the Program manager.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00101F, 00102F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for this position:

• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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).

Basic Education Requirement: The following is the basic educational requirement for a Rehabilitation Counselor at the GS-9 grade level.

-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). Note: If the degree was granted prior to 7/1/2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. Transcripts Required.
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). Transcripts Required.
OR
-A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that 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. Transcripts Required.
OR
-Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Transcripts or other documentation required.

Certification: Current, full and unrestricted certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling. Copy of Certification Required.

Certification Exceptions for Graduate Rehabilitation Counselor (RC): 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 USC 7405(a)(1)(D).

-Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level (GS-9) 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.

Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed as RCs within VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (7/21/2020) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held including positive education and certification.

Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-9 or GS-11 grade levels.

GS-9 Level Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above.
In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals.
• Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling.
• 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.
• Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services.
• Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement.
• 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.

GS-11 Level Experience: Completion of one-year (1) year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled.
OR
GS-11 Level 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 crediting body accredited by CHEA.
In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities.
• Knowledge of military culture and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to assist those who are returning to community and community-based work.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit . Former 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.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.