TEST ANNOUNCEMENT

NUMBER 2005-660

ISSUED  JANUARY 20, 2006

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State Civil Service Commission

Examinations

for

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS

Exam No.	Job Title	Job Code	Pay Schedule and Range
1.	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor,	44829	S 7
	Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2.	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	44831	S 7

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

When completing your application, please make sure you apply for all job titles for which you want to be tested.  You will NOT be permitted to add job titles after you test.

VETERANS:  Pennsylvania law (51 Pa.C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.  To learn more about employment preferences and opportunities for veterans, visit the Commission’s website www.scsc.state.pa.us; visit one of our offices; or call our veterans information line, (717) 787-6039.

NATURE OF WORK

This is professional work in the vocational rehabilitation of customers with disabilities.  You will identify the barriers to employment caused by disabilities, and evaluate customers' strengths, interests, abilities, and aptitudes.  You will also work with customers to develop and implement a plan of services resulting in suitable employment.  The work requires independent judgment in utilizing medical, social, vocational, community, and family resources in the implementation of a vocational rehabilitation plan.

All positions are in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) within the Department of Labor and Industry.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Deaf and Hard of Hearing counsel customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and who may use American Sign Language (ASL), other forms of sign and manual communication, or assistive technology.  All of these positions are in the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS).

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the

Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC) counsel customers with a wide range of physical, mental, and/or sensory disabilities which present barriers to employment.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) counsel customers with a range of visual impairments which present barriers to employment.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Please make sure you meet all requirements.  If after reading the requirements you are not sure you qualify, contact one of the Commission's offices listed at the end of this announcement.

You must be willing to travel.  Travel expenses will be paid.

You must be of good moral character and able to perform the essential functions of the job.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor positions in the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services come under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.  If you are a final candidate for one of these positions, you will have to provide reports on your background from such sources as the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. If you are a final candidate and not a Pennsylvania resident, you must also obtain a report of Federal Criminal History Record Information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  If your background is unacceptable, you will be disqualified for employment in such positions.  You will receive information about these requirements and how to obtain the required reports at the time you are being considered for employment.

Necessary Special Requirement for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Ability to communicate at the intermediate sign communication level as determined by the Sign Communication Proficiency Interview evaluation approved by the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

NOTE The Sign Communication Proficiency Interview will be administered at the employment interview phase of the hiring process.  You must obtain a score of intermediate or above to be hired.  This interview is conducted entirely in American Sign Language (ASL).  You will receive information about this requirement at the time you are being considered for employment.

Minimum Requirements (Both Job Titles) (Option 1) Successful completion of the Commonwealth’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern program; OR (Option 2) a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation education, or rehabilitation administration; OR (Option 3) Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; OR (Option 4) proof of approval to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification’s (CRCC) certification examination, as provided by the CRCC, and completion of a master’s degree.

Clarification of Requirements Under Option 2, you may apply and be placed on the eligible list if you are in the final semester of your master’s degree program.  You must submit a copy of your most recent transcript and a letter from your department chairperson verifying that you are in good academic standing, and your expected graduation date.  You must submit proof of graduation at the time of employment.

If you are qualifying under Option 3, you must submit a photocopy of your certification with your application.

If you are qualifying under Option 4, you must submit a photocopy of your letter of approval to qualify for the certification examination.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

There are 17 filled Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing positions, and 377 filled Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor positions.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing positions are in the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Hiram G. Andrews Center.  Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor positions are in the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and the Hiram G. Andrews Center.

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
District Office	County	District Office	County
Allentown	Lehigh	Philadelphia	Philadelphia
Altoona	Blair	Pittsburgh	Allegheny
Dubois	Clearfield	Reading	Berks
Erie	Erie	Washington	Washington
Harrisburg	Dauphin	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne
Johnstown	Cambria	Williamsport	Lycoming
New Castle	Lawrence	York	York
Norristown	Montgomery
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
District Office	County	District Office	County
Altoona	Blair	Philadelphia	Philadelphia
Erie	Erie	Pittsburgh	Allegheny
Harrisburg	Dauphin	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne
		Rehabilitation Center
		Hiram G. Andrews	Cambria
		Center

The Department of Labor and Industry anticipates making approximately 3 appointments and promotions from lists to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and approximately 40 appointments and promotions from lists to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor over the next 12 months.  These appointments and promotions may be in any of the counties listed above.

Opportunities for appointment to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor are excellent for candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish in the following OVR District Offices:  Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, and York.

Additional opportunities may occur due to normal turnover from retirements, promotions, resignations and so forth.

For the most recent information on job opportunities contact the office where you are interested in working (listed in the telephone directory under “Government - State”); OR the Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Human Resources, Staffing Services Division, Room 1418, Labor and Industry Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania  17120; Telephone:  For BVRS/HGAC positions (717) 783-1290; For BBVS positions (717) 787-5790, or the Department of Labor and Industry website:  http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/view.asp?a=128&q=192986

TESTING

The test will consist of determining if you meet the minimum job requirements described in this announcement, based on the information you provide in your application.

You must provide complete and accurate information.  Failure to do so may delay the processing of your application, or result in disqualification.

If you applied and were found ineligible, but now meet the Minimum Requirements, you may

reapply during the life of this announcement.  A new application is required for a retest.

TEST RESULTS

Employment and promotion lists will be established.  You will be notified in writing of your test results.

HOW TO APPLY

You must submit your application to:

State Civil Service Commission

ATTN:  Applications

P.O. Box 569

Harrisburg, PA  17108-0569

Applications and further information can be obtained from:

1.	State Civil Service Commission:
	Harrisburg:  2nd Level, Strawberry Sq. Complex, 320 Market St., P.O.
	Box 569, Hbg., 17108-0569; Telephone (Voice) (717) 783-3058, Text
	Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 772-2685
	Philadelphia:  110 North 8th St. Suite 503, Phila., 19107; Telephone
	(Voice) (215) 560-2253, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (215) 560-4367
	Pittsburgh:  411 Seventh Ave., Room 410, Pgh., 15219;
	Telephone (Voice) (412) 565-7666, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-
	Hearing callers only) (412) 565-2484
	Internet:  www.scsc.state.pa.us
2.	PA CareerLink offices
3.	The Human Resources Offices listed under the "JOB OPPORTUNITIES" section of this announcement

For further information on testing, assistance for persons with disabilities, veterans' preference and other items, refer to the instructions provided with the "Application for Employment/Promotion."