Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

(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) and to ensure that designated State unit professional and paraprofessional personnel are adequately trained and prepared, including:

(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

DORS has policies and procedures in place related to personnel standards to ensure that designated state unit professional and paraprofessional personnel are adequately trained and prepared, including:

• Standards for hiring VR specialists/rehabilitation counselors are consistent with standards in Maryland law, Labor and Employment Article which specify that rehabilitation counselors “have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in rehabilitation counseling, human services, psychology, or a related field with at least one year of work experience in a human services occupation.” §9-6A-09. DORS considers related fields to include rehabilitation – career assessment, rehabilitation – employer services, education, deaf education, social work, psychology, human services, blind and vision services, employment/career counseling, and community counseling.
• Specific time period by which all state unit personnel will meet the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development standard: For 2019, 100 percent of DORS VR specialists/rehabilitation counselors met the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development standard of a bachelor’s degree and a year of experience. No one is hired for such positions with less than a bachelor’s degree.
• Standards for achievement of journeyman counselor status include a master’s degree. DORS requires that VR specialists considered for promotion to rehabilitation technical specialist (the highest level of rehabilitation counseling) have a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or a closely related field, which may include rehabilitation – career assessment, rehabilitation – employer services, education, deaf education, social work, psychology, human services, blind and vision services, employment/career counseling, and community counseling.  DORS provides technical assistance in career development for staff, and facilitates staff application for Rehabilitation Services Administration scholarships and also provides tuition reimbursement to support staff in achieving required credentials. These education and experience requirements ensure that personnel have current understanding of the labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities.
• DORS encourages and supports through reimbursement of initial certification fees, achievement of Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification (CRCC), but does not require it.  DORS also supports renewal courses and renewal fees of the CRCC.
• Paraprofessional personnel must meet standards of their specific position in the classified service according to position descriptions developed and updated by the MSDE Personnel Office and the Maryland Department of Personnel.