VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 2, DEAF LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
Deaf Language Specialist
Career Family: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELOR
To land Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2, Deaf Language Specialist in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
To be eligible you bring a master's degree and 2 years of relevant experience. The FY2027 range lands between $72,896 and $106,798, and state payroll currently lists about 111 people in the title, most of them at Labor.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Labor and Workforce Development's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Human Services's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Health posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Pay ladder: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor series
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1 — $63,663 – $92,953
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2 — $72,896 – $106,798
Its top salary lands around the 56th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 111 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $96,636. The agencies employing the most are:
- Labor (79)
- Human Services (24)
- Health and Senior Services (5)
- Military and Veterans Affairs (3)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the general supervision of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, provides counseling services to a varied population of clients with disabilities and/or clients with hearing impairments requiring rehabilitative services over an extensive period of time; assists clients with disabilities in the process of selecting and obtaining the necessary training and related services for their vocational rehabilitation; assists clients and employers in obtaining suitable employment or employees; handles a complex caseload of clients; applies judgment to daily problems and complex situations; makes recommendations regarding agency policies and procedures; may take the lead over lower-level counselors and provides technical guidance to staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
These examples of work are to be performed by utilizing the language of the deaf, particularly American Sign Language: May screen cases and distribute them to lower-level counseling staff based on case difficulty and counselor ability. Coordinates services for a caseload of clients with disabilities requiring varied and extensive rehabilitation, vocational training, and other related services. Interviews clients to obtain relevant information regarding medical history, work experience, educational background, interests, and socioeconomic history; disseminates information to clients regarding vocational rehabilitation policies and procedures and other available services. Obtains and evaluates relevant documentation for the determination of client eligibility for services according to established federal, state, and agency policies and guidelines. Evaluates physical capabilities and develops comprehensive case management plans necessary for client rehabilitation; identifies client's social, emotional, or behavioral issues, physical limitations, and nature and extent of employment problems and learning disabilities. Develops and coordinates multi-service rehabilitation programs serving one or more clients with disabilities. Counsels clients with disabilities in developing viable vocational goals based on disability, and assists them to address problems of personal, social, economic, and vocational adjustment. Reviews and evaluates diagnostic data to determine the nature and extent of a client's disability, and refers client for additional psychological, medical, physical, or educational evaluation as deemed necessary. Provides technical guidance to lower-level counselors and support staff, identifies training needs, and participates in the employee development process for this level of staff. Reviews rehabilitation plans developed by lower-level counselors and provides suggestions for changes and improvements. Analyzes and interprets complex caseload information according to agency directives, and compiles data utilized to evaluate caseload management. Assesses vocational or occupational interests of clients; identifies and arranges for formal and informal educational and vocational programs and other necessary training. Plans and implements caseload expenditures for the purchase of diagnostic and other case services necessary for the medical, physical, and emotional rehabilitation of the client, and identifies client's case management needs. Evaluates client's job readiness, assists client to develop and improve job seeking skills, arranges for job placement, prepares client for job interview, and monitors client in job placement. Conducts employer-focused activities for the hiring of the persons with disabilities and advocacy efforts regarding job site modifications, hiring, and job retention. Assembles and maintains vocational information, study materials, and other relevant materials; disseminates, organizes, and interprets appropriate materials for use by clients. Keeps current with laws and regulations involving individuals with disabilities. Conducts casework and other field visits to provide, evaluate, or coordinate necessary services. Develops, organizes, and maintains a referral network, and provides client with referrals to other appropriate programs, services, or resources. Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with other organizations and agencies whose functions or services interact with those needed by the client. Provides information to the public regarding the vocational rehabilitation activities of the agency. Evaluates the progress and effectiveness of a client's individualized program, identifies and recommends changes as required, and evaluates improvements in the client's physical and/or psychological condition. Identifies the need for and provides post-employment services to clients as required. Prepares correspondence. Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Establishes and maintains records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, education, social work, counseling, special education, school guidance, sociology, or psychology.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in vocational/rehabilitation guidance or counseling, or other related guidance and counseling, or social or medical casework in a rehabilitation agency, facility, or other social program designed to increase the employability or persons with disabilities. SPECIAL SKILL: Appointees must be able to communicate effectively in the language of the deaf, particularly American Sign Language, sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. Appointees must have a proficiency level of at least an Intermediate level and must be able to reach the Advanced or higher-level rating on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) or American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) within two years of appointment.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of counseling techniques. Knowledge of the types of vocational/rehabilitation programs needed to properly serve clients. Knowledge of the medical, physiological, psychological, socioeconomic, vocational, and other problems of clients with disabilities. Knowledge of the vocational possibilities, potentials, and limitations of clients with disabilities. Knowledge of the assessment techniques used to evaluate a client's occupational knowledge, skills, and abilities, and readiness for employment. Knowledge of the assessment techniques used to identify a client's vocational rehabilitation needs, and of the methods to develop an individualized program. Ability to read and interpret laws, rules, and regulations affecting clients with disabilities, and apply them to specific situations. Ability to identify and coordinate the varied medical, vocational, training, and other services required for the rehabilitation of clients with disabilities. Ability to interview clients, evaluate complex cases, and provide guidance and counseling to clients with disabilities. Ability to evaluate relevant documentation used to make eligibility determinations. Ability to identify a client's capabilities and limitations and develop the plans necessary for client rehabilitation. Ability to review and evaluate diagnostic data used to determine the nature and extent of a client's disability, and to identify the client's case management needs. Ability to provide technical assistance and guidance to counseling and support staff, review their work, identify training needs, and participate in employee development. Ability to compile data used for caseload management. Ability to counsel clients with disabilities to develop viable vocational goals. Ability to assess the vocational or occupational interests, capabilities, and limitations of clients, and to identify and arrange for the programs and training necessary for client rehabilitation. Ability to evaluate clients' job readiness and assist them to develop and improve their job seeking skills. Ability to assemble, maintain, disseminate, and interpret vocational information. Ability to develop, organize, and maintain a referral network used to provide clients with disabilities with appropriate services and other resources. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those organizations and agencies whose functions or services interact with those needed by the client. Ability to evaluate the level of improvement in a client's condition and evaluate the progress and effectiveness of the client's individualized program. Ability to prepare correspondence. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to establish and maintain records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Ability to communicate in sign language and AMSLAN. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. A current and valid certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor issued by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification may be substituted for the master's degree. A bachelor's degree in in rehabilitation counseling, education, social work, counseling, special education, school guidance, sociology, psychology, business administration, human resources, or economics and two (2) years of professional work experience with individuals with disabilities or performing direct counseling or advocacy activities for individuals with disabilities in a rehabilitation agency, facility or other social program designed to increase the employability of persons with disabilities, may be substituted for the above education. SPECIAL NOTE: Appointees to the Department of Veterans Affairs must possess a master's degree in social work (MSW) or a master's degree in mental health counseling. Appointees to the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot substitute a certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor or the bachelor's degree and experience as indicated above.