Veterans Health Administration Logo
Position Title
Rehabilitation Counselor
Agency
Veterans Health Administration
Announcement Number
CBSR-12716640-25-ON Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, March 27, 2025 to Monday, April 7, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?

If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service. (limit characters)
Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:
  • Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
  • Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
  • Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
  • Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages or encrypted, and digitally signed documents linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. (limit characters)
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001). (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.

Your application package will be reviewed to verify answers.  

Please ensure your resume clearly reflects specific details of experience, lists complete dates of employment, and indicates if the employment was part time (list hours per week) or Full time to properly credit your experience. 
Resume/CV required Resume: Your resume should include the following information for each job that you list: Job title; Complete Workplace Addresses; Duties (be as detailed as possible); Month and year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); Full-time, part-time status (include hours worked per week).

Example: 
Counselor Universe, Rehabilitation Counselor,  1234 Anywhere USA
3/10/2020-present Full time
  • Determine a patient's strengths, medical condition, talents, qualities, and education.
  • Organize rehabilitation and counseling sessions for patients in groups or individually.
  • Evaluate a patient's disability and coordinate their adjustment process.
  • Arrange career training, medical care, and other welfare packages for patients.
  • Research and develop therapy plans that suit the needs of each patient.
  • Work with physicians, therapists, and psychologists to provide the best care to patients.
  • Encourage patients to work on their weaknesses and build on their strengths.
  • Enlighten the community at large on the potential of disabled persons, their needs, and the laws governing people with disabilities.
  • Provide computer programs, wheelchairs, and other resources to patients and mobilize community support to enable them to work and live freely.
  • Teach patients how to live independently.
  • Advocate for patients and clients to work anywhere they want regardless of their conditions.
  • Monitor and document patients' progress and records.
  • Adjust the rehabilitation and therapy plan if necessary.
  • Help veterans and the aged to adjust to any disability acquired from years of service.
  • Liaise with caregivers and patient's families to manage the condition better
  • Ensure that the rehabilitation and counseling targets are met.
  • Prepare reports to present to the government and non-profit organizations interested in persons with disabilities.
  • Solicit for programs, facilities, and external support for people with physical and emotional challenges.
  • Identify and mitigate the barriers to a patient's adjustment at work, school, and society.

Helpful training links: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XeSxzezvY8 Applying to federal jobs and how it works
What to include on a FEDERAL resume - YouTube Federal resume training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY5Z_pfFUK4 Looking for jobs and applying to Fed jobs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-fYgeDJpYI The Federal Employment Process: Resources and Frequently Asked
 (limit characters)
1. Are you proficient in spoken and written English? (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
2. Education Required for all grade levels:
  • master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education.
OR
  • A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
OR
  • A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA.
OR
  • Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).
Do you meet the above described requirements and have you provided proof in your application? (limit characters)
3. Certification:
Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling.

OR
Have an exception and accept the conditions of employment:

Exceptions for Graduate RCs.
  • RC graduates from an approved counseling or rehabilitation counseling program who otherwise meet the basic qualification requirements and the additional degree requirements for CRC certification by the CRCC, but do not possess the required certification, may be appointed, pending certification, as a graduate RC on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D).
  • Graduate RCs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.
  • Temporary graduate RC appointments may not be extended beyond two converted to a new temporary appointment.

Do you meet the requirements or exceptions listed above and have you provided proof in your application? (limit characters)
Failure to Obtain Certification In all cases, RCs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification starting from the date of their appointment . This includes working towards completion of CRCC's required acceptable employment experience and completing required CRCC documentation to verify employment experience and supervision by a CRC supervisor at the time of appointment, the Review Committee will provide the Rehabilitation Counselor with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline prescribed amount. Failure to become certified within the time frame will result in removal from the occupation and may also result in termination of employment.

Loss of Certification 0101 RC series and employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. (limit characters)
GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
4. GS-09 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of human development and behavior, medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disability and differential influences of environmental and cultural factors to assist persons with disabilities in determining suitable vocational goals.
  • Knowledge of history, philosophy and disability rights legislation in the field of rehabilitation to apply in the practice of rehabilitation counseling.
  • Ability to synthesize assessment and diagnosis information in conjunction with labor market trends and community/educational resources to develop an effective individual service delivery plan.
  • Knowledge of caseload management strategies to maximize an individual's independent functioning from assessment through provision of post-employment services.
  • Ability to employ person-centered job development strategies to facilitate successful job placement.
  • Knowledge of assessment tools and methods, functional capacity evaluations and specific vocational preparation to evaluate transferrable skills, residual capacities and needs for accommodations and assistive technology.
Do you meet the requirements as described above and have you provided proof with your application? (limit characters)
5. GS-11 Experience- Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.OR
  • Education. A doctoral degree in rehabilitation counselor education or related field (e.g. rehabilitation psychology) from a CACREP accredited institution or from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA.
AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of physical and psychological disabilities, appropriate accommodations and assistive technology principles to mitigate and reduce or eliminate barriers to integrate into the community.
  • Knowledge of counseling theory, medical and psychiatric terminology and signs and symptomology of suicidal and homicidal ideations, to communicate appropriately with community health care professionals to provide useful input to other team members and employers in relation to the Veteran and/or his/her family's psychosocial needs and to recommend and help implement suitable treatment plans.
  • Ability to use evidence-based and evidence informed vocational and professional counseling practices to include individual placement and support (IPS).
  • Customized employment and supported employment models and motivational interviewing skills to promote self-awareness, adjustment to disability, enhanced job retention and successful integration to the community. (d)Knowledge of career development processes and job analysis methodology to determine essential functions of jobs, worksite modifications and/or alternative vocational goals given the work history and residual functional capacities of individuals with disabilities.
  • Ability to administer and interpret a wide variety of assessment methods including transferrable skills and labor market analyses to evaluate for individual interests, aptitudes and abilities and to identify suitable vocational goals for the development of an effective individual service delivery plan.
  • Knowledge of marketing strategies to develop collaborative partnerships/Memorandums of Agreement within VA and local business community to enhance employment and/or work opportunities.
  • Knowledge of military culture and specific factors and dynamics associated with Veterans, particularly combat Veterans, to assist those who are returning to community and community based-work.
Do you meet the requirements as described above and have you provided proof with your application? (limit characters)
6. Driver's License: A current valid state issued driver's license is required for this position. Note: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; Please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state issued. Driver's license.

Do you possess a current and valid state issued driver's license? (limit characters)
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