Narrative: d. 2. I. iii. II.

VRD ensures that staff is well-qualified to assist individuals with disabilities. There is emphasis of educational requirements at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in fields related to rehabilitation. However, the degree field may include other degrees that prepare individuals to work with customers and employers. For example, bachelor degrees might include not only VR counseling, but also social work, psychology, disability studies, human resources, special education, or another field that reasonably prepares individuals to work with customers and employers. For individuals hired at the bachelor’s level, there is a requirement for at least one year of paid or unpaid experience related to direct work with individuals with disabilities. VRD recognizes master’s or doctoral degrees in fields of specific study, such as VR counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, behavioral health, behavioral science, disability studies, human relations, human services, marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, psychometrics, rehabilitation administration/services, social work, special education, vocational assessment/evaluation, or another field that reasonably provides competence in the employment sector in a disability field or rehabilitation-related fields. A counselor meets the CSPD standard by holding a master’s degree in VR counseling; master’s degree in “counseling or counseling-related field” with specific coursework; master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree in specific majors with specific coursework; current CRC certificate from CRCC; or current LPC licensure. Therefore, a counselor with a master’s degree in counseling or a counseling-related field must, at a minimum, complete a graduate course in the Theories and Techniques of Counseling and successfully complete six graduate courses with a primary focus in the following areas: • one course on assessment; • one course on occupational information or job placement; • one course on case management and rehabilitation services; • one course on medical aspects of disabilities; • one course on psychosocial aspects of disabilities; and • one course on multicultural issues. A counselor with a master’s or doctoral degree in one of the listed specific fields of study must complete a graduate course on the Theories and Techniques of Counseling, and successfully complete six graduate courses each with a primary focus in the areas listed, plus one course on Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling. Although VR has taken steps to hire rehabilitation counselors with master’s degrees in VR counseling, a number of factors pose challenges to this undertaking. A significant barrier to hiring counselors with master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling is the expanse of Texas that must be served. VR affords rehabilitation assistants (RAs) who attain an undergraduate degree the opportunity for employment in VR as VRCs. The years of knowledge and experience on a caseload coupled with their undergraduate degree have proven beneficial to VR.