Duties Description The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Special Education and ACCES (OSEA) is seeking candidates for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position in the Mid Hudson VR District Office. This office assists persons with disabilities to attain employment, educational, and/or independent living goals. Duties of this position includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Manage a caseload, including writing case notes and maintaining supporting documentation;
• Determine eligibility;
• Develop employment goals and Individualized Plans for Employment;
• Purchase goods and services as needed for individuals to reach their employment goals;
• Coordinate the resources of the family, community, and specialists; and
• Determine case closure.
  

Minimum Qualifications NY HELPS
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee 1: Bachelor’s degree or higher AND EITHER
1. Enrollment in a master's degree program in rehabilitation counseling, OR
2. Master’s degree or higher in a related degree field*.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee 2: Bachelor’s degree or higher AND EITHER
1. Completion of 50% of the coursework toward a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, OR
2. Master’s degree or higher in a related degree field* AND one year of professional work experience in a related field.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor:
1. A current Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) certificate OR
2. Master’s degree or higher in rehabilitation counseling, including a supervised internship from a CORE (Council on Rehabilitation Education) accredited program; OR
3. A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or counseling and notice of eligibility to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) certificate examination OR
4. A master’s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling; OR
5. Master’s degree or higher in a related degree field* AND two year of professional work experience in a related field**.

COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Reassignment: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Employees of ACCES-VR who are currently in a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position and are interested in transferring to the location listed on this flyer MUST apply for the position as outlined in the Application section of this flyer.

Eligible List Appointment: Candidates must be reachable on the Civil Service eligible list for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. If you are on the Civil Service eligible list for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, you may receive a canvass letter. You must complete and return it as instructed on the letter.

Section 70.1 Transfer to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in either of the following titles: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Spanish Language) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Manual Communications).

55b/c Appointment: This position is eligible for 55b/c designation and candidates with 55b/c eligibility are encouraged to apply. Candidates must possess a current 55b/c eligibility letter and the following minimum qualifications:

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee 1: Bachelor’s degree or higher AND EITHER
1. Enrollment in a master's degree program in rehabilitation counseling, OR
2. Master’s degree or higher in a related degree field*.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee 2: Bachelor’s degree or higher AND EITHER
1. Completion of 50% of the coursework toward a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, OR
2. Master’s degree or higher in a related degree field* AND one year of professional work experience in a related field.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor:
1. A current Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) certificate OR
2. Master’s degree or higher in rehabilitation counseling, including a supervised internship from a CORE (Council on Rehabilitation Education) accredited program; OR
3. A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or counseling and notice of eligibility to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) certificate examination OR
4. A master’s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling; OR
5. Master’s degree or higher in a related degree field* AND two year of professional work experience in a related field**.

• Related degree fields include the following: Addictions/Substance Abuse Counseling, Behavioral Health, Behavioral Science, Business Administration, Blindness/Vision Impaired Rehabilitation/Education, Child/Family Studies, Communication Disorders (including Speech Language Disorders and Pathology), Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Deaf/Hearing Impaired Rehabilitation/Education, Disability Studies, Educational Psychology, Health Administration, Health Services, Health Studies, Human Development, Human Relations, Human Resources, Human Services, Marriage/Family Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Orientation and Mobility Studies, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Public Administration, Rehabilitation Services, School/Guidance/Education Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Substance Use Disorders, Transition Counseling, Vision Rehabilitation Studies, Vocational Assessment/Evaluation, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.

**Acceptable Professional Work Experience in a related field: Behavioral Health, Behavioral Science,
Communication Disorders (including Speech Language Disorders and Pathology), Counseling (including Addictions, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Marriage and Family, School Guidance), Disability Studies, Hearing Impaired Education/Rehabilitation, Orientation and Mobility, Psychology, School Rehabilitation Services (including Occupational and Physical Therapy), Social Work, Special Education,
Visually Impaired Education and Rehabilitation, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Vocational Assessment/Evaluation, OR experience assisting persons with disabilities to attain employment, educational, and/or independent living goals.

*** Candidates who are Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) are required to provide proof of their Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) credential at the time of hire. Continued employment as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is dependent upon maintaining CRC Certification. Failure to maintain CRC Certification will result in removal from employment.

Additional Comments CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This will be a permanent, competitive appointment or a permanent, non-competitive appointment. Promotions and transfers may change appointees’ negotiating unit. Candidates should be aware that changes in negotiating units may affect their salary, insurance, and other benefits. For 55b/c appointment, candidates must possess the minimum qualifications, a current 55b/c eligibility letter and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility. Verification of enrollment, degree, and/or CRC certificate will be required at the time of interview for all candidates. This position will require 40% in-state travel. This position allows for the opportunity to telecommute up to 30% each bi-weekly pay period.

Federal law may impose additional requirements or restrictions regarding positions that receive federal funding.

This position may be filled as a traineeship. The starting salary for this position is outlined below. For current New York State employees, salary is based on the candidate’s salary at the time of hire. Candidates appointed at the trainee level will be required to successfully complete the traineeship to advance to the full performance level title and salary.

• $63,989 (Trainee 1 - NS equated to SG-15)
• $70,543 (Trainee 2 - NS equated to SG-17)
• $77,761 (Full Performance level SG-19)

This position leads to a maximum salary of $89,645 based on annual performance advances and traineeship advances. For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.

Based on this position’s location, in addition to the listed base salary, this position also receives a $2,000 Mid-State Adjustment.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity, prior conviction records, prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications, or sealed records.

Interested in a job with New York State, but don’t know where to start?

Visit these links for information on working for New York State:

• https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/
• https://www.cs.ny.gov/pio/publications/gettingajob.pdf

Generous benefits of working for New York State, including, but not limited to, the following:

Holiday & Paid Time Off

• Thirteen (13) paid holidays annually.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave in year one, increasing to 20+ days with additional years of service.
• Five (5) days of paid personal leave annually.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave annually for PEF/CSEA and eight (8) days paid sick leave annually for M/C.
• Annual professional leave and educational leave opportunities for eligible staff.

Health Care Benefits

• Eligible employees and dependents can choose from a variety of affordable and generous health insurance programs.
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits

• Enrollment in the New York State pension system which has earned the distinction of being one of the best-managed and best-funded plans in the nation OR Optional Retirement Defined Contribution Plan with 8% salary match (eligibility requirements apply).
• NYS Deferred Compensation and an exclusive 403(b) Optional Retirement Savings Plan.
• Paid Parental Leave for all employees and Paid Family Leave (M/C Only).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Eligibility for various life insurance options.

New York State Education Department
Box: OSEA-301/44016
89 Washington Avenue, Room 528 EB
Albany, New York 12234
Fax: (518) 486-5631
E-mail: oseajobs@nysed.gov