Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Internships (VRCI)

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NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234
An Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR INTERNSHIPS (VRCI)

Location: Throughout New York

Salary: $15.16 hourly

All of the 15 ACCES sites in New York - Albany, Buffalo, Bronx, Brooklyn, Garden City, Hauppauge, Malone, Manhattan, Mid-Hudson, Queens, Rochester, Southern Tier, Syracuse, Utica, White Plains.

Department Portrait  - The Mission of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) is to promote educational equity and excellence for students with disabilities while ensuring that they receive the rights and protection to which they are entitled; assure appropriate continuity between the child and adult services systems; and provide the highest quality vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to all eligible persons as quickly as those services are required to enable them to work and live independent, self-directed lives. 

Vocational Rehabilitation Intern Program - The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Student Intern Program is intended to provide a diverse group of graduate students with work assignments that give candidates an opportunity to participate in vocational rehabilitation counselor activities, assignments, and situations.  Candidates may receive compensation for their work, all the while fulfilling needed observation and field experience requirements for their Vocational Rehabilitation program.  Upon successful completion of the internship, graduating candidates may have an opportunity for full-time employment with the New York State Education Department/Adult Career and Continuing Education Services.

Career Track - Upon completion of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Internship and the degree program, interns may be eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor exam, thus qualifying them for any available Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (salary grade 19) positions.  Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) is an entry-level position in the VRC career track which includes: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (salary grade 19), Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (salary grade 22) and Associate Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (salary grade 25). Role of the VRCI - The intern will shadow a counseling professional who has CRC certification to gain knowledge and experience in professional counseling.  Activities will include: orientation, assisting consumers in obtaining medical and psychological information, preparing eligibility forms for review and approval, assisting consumers in vocation exploration and preparation of Individualized Plans for Employment, follow up on consumer progress in training programs, job search, and job placement. 

Placement of the Intern - The VRCI will be assigned to one of 15 District Offices based on the needs of the intern and the District Office. 

Intern’s Supervisor - In order to ensure positive and experienced supervision that will enhance the professional and personal development of individuals selected to participate in the VRCI program, the VRCI will be supervised onsite by a vocational rehabilitation professional with Rehabilitation Counseling Certification.  Specific guidelines and requirements for supervision of the intern will be provided to the District Office by the intern’s academic program advisor prior to the initiation of the internship experience. 

Qualifications - Candidates must be currently enrolled in a Master’s level Rehabilitation Counseling (Vocational) accredited program. Candidates are expressly prohibited from pursuing employment with both the State Education Department and SUNY system/CUNY system/Legislature/etc. (no dual-employment).


Program Term - We have current and continuous openings within the Internship Program. We will only consider those applicants that have submitted their application prior to the deadlines noted below:

Deadline for Fall Program: July 1st
Deadline for Spring Program: November 1st
Deadline for Summer Program: March 15th

To Apply

Click here for an Application (Word Document 141 KB Microsoft Word Document Icon), Application (PDF Format 212 KB Adobe PDF Icon) or contact:

NYS Education Department
Graduate Student Intern Program
Office of Human Resources Management
Room 530 EB, 89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-5215 (Phone)
(518) 473-3945 (Fax)

For additional information on the Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Internship Program, and related opportunities to become a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in New York State, click here to access our updated ACCES brochure (PDF Format 1.13 MB )

The State Education Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities.  Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including Braille, large print or audiotape, upon request.  Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234.

Last Updated: May 17, 2012