Vocational Rehabilition Counselor Trainees

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,087 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,543 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before January 5, 2024, you must have:

Either 1. a bachelor?s degree or higher AND be enrolled in a master's degree program in Rehabilitation Counseling;

Or 2. a master?s degree or higher in a related-degree field*.

*Related degree fields include the following: Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Disability Studies, Behavioral Health, Behavioral Science, Blindness/Visually Impaired Rehabilitation and Education, Deaf/Hearing Impaired Rehabilitation and Education, Orientation and Mobility Studies, Educational Psychology, Child/Family Studies, Communication Disorders (including Speech Language Disorders and Pathology), Health Administration, Health Services, Health Studies, Human Development, Human Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources, Human Services, Special Education, Addictions/Substance Abuse Counseling, Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Transition Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Services, School/Guidance/Education Counseling, Substance Use Disorders, Vision Rehabilitation Studies, Vocational Assessment, Vocational Evaluation, Counseling Psychology, or Marriage and Family Counseling.

***Traineeships: To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Vocational Rehabilition Counselor Trainee 2 at a salary of $59,724. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of Vocational Rehabilition Counselor at a salary of $66,527 without further examination. An appointee?s performance in the trainee position and in the set training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. If an appointee does not meet the standard requirements, they may be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship.

You may, at the agency?s discretion, be appointed to a higher level (Advanced Placement). You must inform the agency of any additional qualifications at the time of your interview.

For advanced placement to the Trainee 2 level, you must also have:

Either 1. a bachelor?s degree or higher AND completion of 50% of the coursework toward a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling;

Or 2. a master?s degree or higher in a related degree field* AND one year of professional work experience in a related field**.

For advanced placement to the Full Performance level, you must also have:

Either 1. a current Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) credential as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC);

Or 2. a master?s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling;

Or 3. a master?s degree or higher in a related degree field* AND two years of professional work experience in a related field**.

**Acceptable Professional Work Experience in a related field: Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Vocational Assessment, Vocational Evaluation, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling (including Addictions/Substance Abuse Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, School/Guidance Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling), Orientation and Mobility, Disability Studies, Behavioral Health, Behavioral Science, Hearing Impaired Education/Rehabilitation, Visually Impaired Education/Rehabilitation, Communication Disorders (including Speech Language Disorders and Pathology), Special Education, School Rehabilitation Services (including Occupational and Physical Therapy) or experience with assisting persons with disabilities to attain employment, educational, and/or independent living goals.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees may:
• be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL), maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
• be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). You must report all convictions. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal law;

And may:

• be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.

You are responsible for payment of all required fees.

2. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination and apply to a title which requires language proficiency, you must demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly. The proficiency test will only be given to enough candidates to fill current vacancies.

Continued Employment: To keep this position, you must complete your qualifying master's degree before the end of the two-year traineeship. Candidates who are Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) are required to provide proof of their Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) credential at the time of hire. Continued employment as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is dependent upon maintaining CRC Certification. Failure to maintain CRC Certification will result in removal from employment.

The Positions: These positions exist in the New York State Education Department, the Office of Children and Family Services, the State Insurance Fund, the New York State Workers' Compensation Board, the Office of Mental Health, and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports and are located throughout New York State.

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Duties

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you would be part of a team effort to assist persons with disabilities to attain employment, education, or independent living goals. You would coordinate the resources of the family, community, and specialists; utilize rehabilitation facilities and workshops, schools and universities, employers and employer groups; and, through direct personal counseling, bring the consumer to the best possible rehabilitation outcome.

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee 1, you would perform the same duties described above under close supervision and receive additional training. You would have the opportunity to advance to the full-performance level position after the successful completion of a two-year traineeship.

As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee 1 (Manual Communications) or (Spanish Language), you would perform the duties described above. If you are considered for appointment to a "Manual Communications" or "Spanish Language" position, you will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the manual sign language or in the Spanish language. Proficiency must be at a level which will permit you to perform the duties of the position satisfactorily.

Note: If you submit an application for an examination with a language parenthetic, an application will automatically be submitted for you for the non-language examination.

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Subject of Examination

There is no in-person multiple-choice test. To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass an online training and experience test.

The online training and experience test uses an online questionnaire to ask questions about your education, training, and work experience. The answers you provide to the questions will be rated and scored against the general requirements of the positions.

The online questionnaire IS YOUR TEST and should be completed after submitting your application. You will not receive a score on this test unless you complete and submit the online questionnaire. You must complete and submit the online test by 11:59 pm on February 21, 2024.

To prepare for completing the online questionnaire (the online training and experience test), it may be helpful to have dates of completed education and work experience available for reference. Responding to these questions, and submitting your questionnaire, is required to complete the examination process. For more information on how to complete and submit a training and experience test, we highly recommend that you view the T&E Test Tutorial at: https://tms.cs.ny.gov/TNETutorials/01.html

Your final score must be 70 or higher to pass. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

How To Apply: You will need a personal NY.gov ID to apply for these examinations. If you do not have a personal NY.gov account, please create an account.

There are two steps that must be completed to apply for and take this examination. This examination uses a "Dashboard" to serve as a navigation tool to guide you through the examination process.

Step 1: Complete and submit the online examination application on or before 11:59 p.m. February 7, 2024.

Step 2: Complete and submit the online questionnaire. The online questionnaire is where you answered questions about how you meet the minimum qualifications. The online questionnaire must be completed and submitted on or before 11:59 p.m., February 21, 2024. The Dashboard is found here: https://www.cs.ny.gov/dashboards/secure/vocational-rehabilitation-counselor-trainee-1

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Accommodation Unit of the Department of Civil Service at Testaccommodation@cs.ny.gov.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

S3/TB1 SEP-ctc
Issued: 1/5/24
***Revised Material: 1/26/24

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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