CERTIFICATION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS The United States Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), Branch of Medical Standards and Rehabilitation (BMSR), is soliciting vocational rehabilitation counselors in the states of California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. OWCP/BMSR intends to certify and contract with VRCs in these areas to provide direct vocational rehabilitation services for injured workers covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. OWCP certification involves 1) minimum qualification criteria, 2) rating of educational and experience factors, 3) selection of those counselors with the highest ratings, 4) required attendance at a training workshop, and 5) a contractual agreement to follow OWCP standards. The mimimum qualifications for consideration are: 1) a bachelor degree from an accredited four year college or university; and 2) two years' workers' compensation vocational rehabilitation counseling experience. New procedures require VRCs to submit to the OWCP National Office a complete package, orginal and duplicate, consisting of: (1) a narrative summary which provides a complete and detailed description of their work experience and educational background, including vocational counseling experience in using the labor market, job placement, and using testing/vocational evaluation; (2) copies of transcripts supporting the college/university degrees obtained, and references from employers or contractors to verify experience and rehabilitation counselor employment; (3) a signed cover letter or statement by VRC indicating that the application package demonstrates the intent to be available to provide direct services to injured workers under OWCP, and including the following statement: "I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all information, statements, and documents herein presented are true, correct, complete and made in good faith, under penalty of disqualification and prosecution under the law". Applicants with the highest ratings will be selected to attend the required training workshops. The training workshops are planned through November 3, 2000, in the region. OWCP will provide a memorandum of attendance which VRC may use to apply for continuing education units. VRCs are not paid or otherwise reimbursed for attending these workshops. Certification extends for a basic one year period followed by a maximum of 4, one year options. Evaluation of counselor's performance will determine whether options are renewed. VRCs who receive referrals are evaluated on OWCP's standards of timeliness, quality, and adherence to OWCP's policies and procedures. Additional rating factors are positive outcomes or successful closures. These evaluations will determine whether VRC continue to receive referrals, and have a bearing on eligibility for future workshops. VRCs selected to provide direct services are compensated at the rate of $65 per hour for professional time and $32.50 per hour for non-professional time based on the OWCP approved schedule for direct services on a case by case basis. OWCP may develop and test pilot programs to determine the feasibility of other methods of remuneration. OWCP does not guarantee a minimum number of referrals to each VRC. vrc are hereby asked to forward a complete application package including all of the required information of resume, verifying references, and transcripts of completed college work, in one package to Virginia Miller, M.D., Chief, Branch of Medical Standards and Rehabilitation, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-3522, Washington, DC 20210. The deadline for submitting application packages, orginal and duplicate, is July 28, 2000. The entire application package must be postmarked and/or received at the above address by the applicable due date or the VRC is disqualified. Posted 05/12/00 (W-SN454494).

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