Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06080

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: DVR

Job classification: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 3

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Human Services, Counseling, Community and Social Services

Summary

DVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1-3 In Training.

Join the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and our hard-working team of professionals as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1-3 in Training at our Bellingham Office.

The job of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is suited for the person that has a commitment to the economic prosperity of students, youth and adults with disabilities who are seeking paid jobs and advancement in their careers. You provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and case management services to assist people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment.

DVR may offer relocation assistance for those out-of-state applicants offered WA state employment with DVR. Please see the Supplemental Question section for information. Motivated people engaged in providing vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

In cooperation with other agencies and service providers, you will work with customers to complete comprehensive assessments and develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) to achieve their employment goals. In this role, you will independently provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and case management to a caseload of students, youth, and adults with disabilities to assist them in achieving a competitive employment outcome.

Some of what you will be doing

• You will learn to serve a caseload of 50-110 DVR customers
• Determine each customer’s eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services necessary to achieve their employment goal
• Provide vocational rehabilitation counseling and support
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of customer needs identifying the disability-related barriers to employment that require vocational rehabilitation services
• Arrange and interpret results of diagnostic testing and other vocational rehabilitation assessment tools; obtain benefit reports and interpret results to assist and counsel customers
• Assist customers in developing and implementing an Individual Plan for Employment and monitor progress toward completion of employment goals
• Maintain close working relationships with those who jointly serve DVR customers; promote DVR programs to the public and employers, and conduct outreach in the community to share information about DVR services
• Lead group orientations, workshops, and related activities to facilitate informed choices and prepare customers for employment

Who should apply

• Current Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
• Or, a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, counseling, or a field related to vocational rehabilitation (such as one that promotes the physical, psychosocial, or vocational well-being of people with disabilities)
• Or, a master's degree with at least 18 quarter or 12 semester credit hours of rehabilitation counseling courses, plus 6 months of paid/unpaid vocational counseling, job placement, vocational assessment, or other areas of rehabilitation counseling experience

OR

• A professional who is accepted/enrolled in a rehabilitation counselling or related master’s degree program that will be completed within two years and has achieved a bachelor’s degree along with one year paid/unpaid experience consisting of:
• Direct work with people with disabilities in a setting such as an independent living center
• Or, direct service or advocacy activities that provide you with experience and skills in working with persons with disabilities
• Or, direct experience as an employer, as a small business owner or operator, or in self-employment, or other experience in education, human resources, recruiting, or experience in supervising employees, training, or other activities that provide experience in integrated employment environments or in areas that assist others find employment (i.e. WorkSource)

Click here for a complete list of desired qualifications. If you are currently enrolled (or accepted to an accredited vocational rehab master’s program), you may qualify for tuition reimbursement. Please discuss this at the time of interview.

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Apply technical knowledge of medical and psychological aspects of disabling conditions, labor market information, transferable skills evaluations, assistive technology, and job modifications
• Assist customers in exercising informed choices to make collaborative decisions that are consistent with appropriate vocational rehabilitation practice
• Support customers in developing a wide variety of social, educational, and financial resources to reach their employment goals by applying multiple counseling techniques to meet the varied needs of customers
• Manage multiple and competing priorities within prescribed time limits
• Negotiate with vendors, and collaborate with other rehabilitation professionals

The goal class for this role described above is for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 3. We may consider applicants at the VRC1 or VRC2 level, with a training plan to advance to a VRC3. Education and experience are the difference between qualifications at each level and evaluated by the hiring team. Starting salary depends on your qualifications. Thoroughly submitted application documents will assist in determining your experience and education in this area.

Interested? Apply today! To learn more about DSHS, go to www.dshs.wa.gov.

Questions? Email reema.goyal@dshs.wa.gov and reference #06080

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security