Student Trainee (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor) Internship Program

Summary

The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development.

This position is located in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Division within a VA Regional Office. Positions filled utilizing Pathways Student Internship Authority, provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in federal agencies while in school.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. This position is part of the Pathways Program and is open to current students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational institution and enrolled at least half-time. This is an Excepted Service appointment on a temporary basis. This is a temporary internship to complete project work that is temporary in nature.

Duties

Help

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, or technical/vocational degree or certificate (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps), with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/.

The Pathways Intern will be assigned to a Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (SVRC), who will be responsible for overall supervision, oversight, accountability, and performance management, including establishing performance expectations and completing performance evaluations.

• Assistant staff in providing services to eligible Veterans with disabilities from application through discontinued status.
• Send forms and letters to contractors and Veterans.
• Assist with conducting and documenting Case Management Appointments and Annual Reviews, as well as assisting with scheduling initial and follow-up appointments.
• Make recommendations to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) on the purchase of tools, supplies, and equipment to include special equipment required by the training facility.
• Review vouchers and invoices and prepares payment authorizations for goods and services; monitors program costs to assure cost do not exceed the authorized program limits
• Review grade, academic or training progress reports to determine the Veteran's progress toward rehabilitation goals, recommends appropriate action, and follows through to implement approved recommendations.
• Respond to Veteran's routine questions concerning subsistence allowance and receipt/non-receipt of money due.
• Accept and verifies dependency documents to determine proper subsistence benefit amounts to be paid to Chapter 31 Veterans.
• Under the supervision and guidance of the VRC, participants in initial evaluations on Veterans applying for benefits and services.

Work Schedule: Full-time or Part-time; Minimum 20 hours. Maximum 80 hours each pay period, depending on the student's school schedule.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/09/2026.

Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, applicants must meet the Education qualifications for the grade at which they are requesting consideration.

To be eligible and qualify based on Superior Academic Achievement: applicants must possess a conferred bachelor's degree with a 3.0 or higher AND be enrolled in school currently pursuing a Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
Applicants are required to attach the conferred bachelor's degree AND current degree/certificate transcripts.

OR

To be eligible and qualify based on Graduate School Education only: applicants must be currently enrolled in a Master's program and have completed one full academic year of graduate education (18 credits) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.

Program Completion and Conversion

• Interns may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 180 days of successful completion of the program.
• To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:
  • Complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program
  • Complete their degree or certificate requirements
  • Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted
  • Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement, and
  • Perform their job successfully.
  • If you are graduating in the same semester or term in which you are appointed, you must be able to complete 480 work hours prior to graduation.