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:
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[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:
Personnel Standards
There is not a state-approved or recognized certification, licensure, or registration of Vocational Rehabilitation counselors. VR, in conjunction with the Florida Rehabilitation Council (FRC) established the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) educational eligibility requirement as its standard.
Efforts are made to recruit and hire counselors who meet the CRC educational eligibility status. If VR is unsuccessful in finding enough qualified applicants, it will accept those who meet the minimal initial standard for providing counseling and guidance services. The individual(s) must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and one year of experience counseling individuals with disabilities. Alternative majors other than social, behavioral, or rehabilitative science may be considered along with the minimum qualification requirements for the position.
When evaluating the suitability of alternative majors, the hiring authority should consider the major area of study’s applicability to the required knowledge, skills and abilities. A master’s degree from an accredited university in a social, behavioral, or rehabilitative science can substitute for the year of required experience.
The State of Florida allows employees to use a tuition waiver to enroll in six hours (or less) of courses per semester on a space-available basis at public universities. Florida has three CACREP-accredited programs (Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida, and the Florida International University) offering Rehabilitation Counseling degrees. There are several other Florida universities that offer degrees and courses in related fields, including two sign language interpreting programs.
VR employees are encouraged to use the State of Florida Tuition Waiver program as much as possible, since it represents a significant savings to VR.
In addition to the Florida public universities referenced above, VR uses the resources of Auburn University, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, the University of West Virginia, the University of Alabama, University of North Texas, UMass Online, Thomas University, Emporia State University, Troy State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout, all of whom provide online Masters-level rehabilitation programs. VR will continue to use additional programs, as appropriate.