Rehabilitation Counselor

Summary

The Rehabilitation Counselor (RC) serves as an advanced-practice, independent clinician responsible for providing comprehensive, evidence-based vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with complex medical, psychosocial, and vocational needs.

The RC provides expert vocational assessment, individualized rehabilitation planning, job development and placement services, employer engagement, interdisciplinary care coordination, program evaluation, and performance improvement activities.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

• Conducts expert-level vocational assessments, including evaluation of functional capacities, psychosocial factors, education/training history, transferable skills, and labor-market opportunities.
• Develops and implements individualized, recovery-oriented vocational rehabilitation and employment plans tailored to complex Veteran needs.
• Delivers advanced, evidence-based counseling and vocational interventions to promote employment, functional independence, and community reintegration.
• Manages a complex caseload generally within the 20-25 Veteran range, with caseload adjustments based on assignment and operational needs.
• Supported Employment (SE): Implements and monitors fidelity to Individual Placement and Support (IPS); conducts rapid job search, employer outreach, and follow-along supports; ensures Veteran-centered, competitive employment outcomes.
• Transitional Work (TW): Supports therapeutic work experience programming; ensures compliance with TW policies and safety protocols; develops and manages worksite partnerships; fiscal/budgetary functions related to payroll; supports transition to competitive employment.
• Community Based Employment Services (CBES):
• Program/Team Lead Functions: Coordinates team operations, facilitates team/program workflows, supports staff development, fiscal/budgetary functions and monitors adherence to national policy and program expectations.
• Provides consultation to interdisciplinary teams including Mental Health, SUD, PRRC, Homeless Programs, Primary Care, and specialty medical services in absence of program director.
• Delivers training on vocational rehabilitation principles, IPS fidelity, TW operations, and best practices.
• Participates in case conferences, treatment planning, interdisciplinary huddles, and collaborative care activities.
• Conducts systematic job development; cultivates and maintains employer and community partnerships.
• Provides guidance on accommodations, disability disclosure, benefits interaction, and job retention strategies.
• Advocates for Veterans' vocational goals across internal and external systems.
• Collects, tracks, and analyzes program outcomes including engagement, access, employment rates, job tenure, wages, safety, and satisfaction.
• Prepares reports for leadership; contributes to VISN and national reporting requirements.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement efforts to enhance program efficiency, fidelity, and Veteran outcomes.
• Ensures documentation accuracy and adherence to national policies, Joint Commission standards, and local requirements.

Work Schedule : Monday through Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm (subject to change based on facility needs)

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : FS 02360F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

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.
• 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 ( 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).
• 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 a1 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.

Drivers License Requirement:

• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.

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 :

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education Requirements:

(1) 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

(2) 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

(3) A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that 3 emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employme n t, 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.

Grandfathering Provision: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations- GS-12 :

Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities . In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

(a) Ability to apply and teach principles and practices of the evidence-based model of individual placement and support, supported employment (IPS, SE), by engaging others in multiple training methods including hands-on, virtual and telephone trainings, utilizing excellent consultative, facilitative and organizational skills as well as coaching/listening skills.

(b) Ability to conduct in person coaching, develop community-wide learning events, and lead mock SE fidelity reviews to provide feedback regarding SE program services and adherence to the SE model.

(c) Skill to apply principles and practices of IPS, SE, psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles, customized employment and fidelity scale measures to successfully engage Veterans and care providers in the rehabilitation process.

(d) Skill to apply advanced counseling skills, crisis intervention and personal and 9 family counseling to intercede on behalf of Veterans, their families and significant others needing specific assistance with employment, housing and finances.

Preferred Experience:

1 year of Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling experience

Staff mentoring, coaching and training

Program data oversight, quality improvement, and compliance

High level interdisciplinary coordination

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking and standing up to an hour, and operating a motor vehicle. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Government vehicle operation required. Drivers license required

Environmental Factors: Outside and inside, working closely with others and working alone.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.