Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Colorado does not have state-approved or recognized certification, licensing or registration requirements for any of the personnel classifications used by DVR, specifically rehabilitation counselors. In collaboration with Colorado’s Department of Personnel and Administration, DVR has established minimum qualifications that require all counselors to possess an appropriate Master’s level degree, experience working with individuals with disabilities, and whenever possible, are eligible to obtain the appropriate nationally recognized certification. DVR has not made changes to current personnel standards as a result of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and all professional staff positions continue to identify minimum qualifications that meet or exceed legislated requirements.  DVR works closely with Department’s Office of Human Resources, to ensure the staff responsible for the initial screening of applicants is knowledgeable of the education and experience requirements needed to assure qualified personnel.

When circumstances prohibit DVR from hiring a fully qualified rehabilitation counselor, DVR does maintain a rehabilitation counselor intern classification. If an individual is hired as a rehabilitation counselor intern, he or she is required to complete necessary coursework or accrue necessary employment experience to fully meet the minimum qualifications of a rehabilitation counselor within 5 years of the date of hire. In these situations, a training plan is developed with the individual identifying specific educational or experiential requirements that must be completed and the timeline for completion. DVR assists these staff to connect with universities offering financial assistance through RSA administered long-term training grants. DVR connects rehabilitation counselor interns with these funding sources to the extent possible, as DVR is unable to provide any financial support for staff to complete graduate coursework. The intern classification is used only when efforts to recruit fully qualified rehabilitation counselors have been unsuccessful. However, it is a useful tool, particularly in rural areas of the state and to ensure a diverse workforce. In recent years, DVR has had several instances of “growing its own” through this strategy, with staff initially hired into a support staff position, then working as a rehabilitation counselor intern while completing graduate coursework necessary to eventually become a fully qualified rehabilitation counselor. This has proven to be a very positive recruitment and retention strategy in some of Colorado’s most rural communities.

For more specialized and harder to fill positions, agencies are able to request a waiver to recruit out of state. DVR does maintain a residency waiver for rehabilitation counselor vacancies to expand the recruitment pool beyond Colorado.  

DVR believes that the private sector is another good resource for recruiting experienced, competent staff. Through its relationships with various professional associations for counseling and other disciplines, DVR maintains a network for recruiting vocational rehabilitation counselors who have experience in the private sector. DVR ensures availability of accommodations necessary for qualified individuals with disabilities to successfully compete for and perform their job when hired.

DVR ensures rehabilitation counselors predominately serving clients who are deaf are skilled in American Sign Language and knowledgeable of deaf culture. Evaluation of these skills is incorporated in the screening and hiring process for counselors working with this population. Similarly, orientation and mobility instructors and vision rehabilitation therapists must meet the same minimum qualifications of a rehabilitation counselor, along with specialized skills necessary to provide orientation and mobility services and vision rehabilitation.