Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- 3. Personnel Standards
Describe the State agency's policies and procedures for the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards consistent with section 101(a)(7)(B) to ensure that designated State unit professional and paraprofessional personnel are adequately trained and prepared, including:
- 3. Personnel Standards
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
i. 3. A. Standards that are consistent with any national or State-approved or -recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the profession or discipline in which such personnel are providing VR services; and
Current Narrative:
VR continues to utilize an established set of standards to evaluate and select VR counselors. These standards are based on a modified version of standards utilized by the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD). The State of Oregon’s VR counselor classification is shared by WCD, the Oregon State Hospital, the Oregon Commission for the Blind, and VR. It requires that VR counselors possess:
- A Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling; OR
- Be certified by either the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), or the Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission as a Certified Disability Management Specialist D (CDMS), and six months full–time work experience providing vocational rehabilitation–related services; OR
- A Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a field related to Vocational Rehabilitation (such as one that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well–being of individuals with disabilities) and 12 months full–time work experience providing vocational rehabilitation–related services, OR
- A Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as one that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well–being of individuals with disabilities, and three years of full–time work experience providing vocational rehabilitation–related services to individuals with disabilities. There is no direct experience substitute for a Bachelor’s degree.
VR continues to have a goal that all employees classified as VR counselors will hold a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or a closely related field. VR will continue to seek counseling staff with Master’s degrees, but VR counselor candidates with an appropriate Bachelor’s degrees and related work experience may be hired.
In the past few years, VR has broadened support to staff who have attained their CRC credential through not only ensuring that all eligible training sessions are pre-approved for CRC continuing education units (CEUs), but by also paying for renewal fees and online training courses through CRCC’s E-University. Additionally, staff who are eligible to apply to take the CRC examination are supported by VR covering the cost of the testing fees, preparation materials and the University of Wisconsin-Stout CRC Preparation Course (an 8-week training that is completed online).
On March 15, 2020, there are 67 VR staff with CRC credentials; 53 of these are practicing VR counselors, 7 are branch or regional managers stationed in the field and the remaining 7 are former VR Counselors who are now working in Central Administration. There is also one Central Administration staff person who has earned the Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist (CVE) credential.
Executive staff, Administration staff and a group of Field Office staff are currently exploring the possibility of the Agency to provide some level of financial support to those staff who are in process of obtaining, or who are considering pursuing Licensed Professional Counselor status in the state of Oregon. There are 7 staff currently pursuing full LPC status and three who have completed the 2400 hours of clinical supervision required to qualify for full licensure. Of these 10 staff members, 8 are already CRC-credentialed professionals.