Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 85-27-4 - Minimum Education and Experience Requirements The following are considered the minimum education and experience requirements to provide vocational rehabilitation services under the West Virginia workers' compensation insurance system:
4.1. A doctorate or masters degree from an accredited college or university in rehabilitation counseling, counseling, psychology, physical and/or occupational therapy, social work, nursing, or in a field that promotes the physical, psychosocial or vocational well-being of persons being served as well as at least twelve (12) months of full-time or equivalent part-time employment providing vocational rehabilitation services, as defined in this rule, to individuals receiving benefits or services from a disability compensation system or a public rehabilitation system of which six (6) months must have been under the supervision of a qualified rehabilitation professional; or4.2. Current licensed professional counselor or certified vocational evaluation specialist certification as well as at least twelve (12) months of full-time or equivalent part-time employment providing vocational rehabilitation services, as defined in this rule, to individuals receiving benefits or services from a disability compensation system or a public rehabilitation system, of which six (6) months must have been under the supervision of a qualified rehabilitation professional; or4.3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in rehabilitation counseling, counseling, psychology, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, or in a field that promotes the physical, psychosocial or vocational well-being of persons being served as well as at least thirty-six (36) months of full-time or equivalent part-time employment providing vocational rehabilitation services, as defined this rule, to individuals receiving benefits or services from a disability compensation system or a public rehabilitation system, of which twelve (12) months must have been under the supervision of a qualified rehabilitation professional; or4.4. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in any client serving field with transcripts documenting successful completion of at least five (5) of the following courses: medical aspects of disability, psychosocial aspects of disability, vocational-occupational information, job placement, theories of counseling, delivery of rehabilitation services, personal and vocational adjustment, vocational and career development, assessment and standardized testing, human resource management, health care administration or case management. In addition, the applicant must have at least forty-eight (48) months of full-time or equivalent part-time employment providing vocational rehabilitation services, as defined in this rule, to individuals receiving benefits or services from a disability compensation system or a public rehabilitation system, of which twenty-four (24) months must have been under the supervision of a qualified rehabilitation professional; or4.5. Certified case managers, certified rehabilitation counselors, certified disability management specialists, or certified rehabilitation registered nurses. These limited types of qualified rehabilitation professionals are required to verify and provide proof of their certification to the Insurance Commissioner, self-insured employer or private carrier, or to their third party administrator or managed care provider, whomever services are provided under this rule. In turn the Insurance Commissioner, self-insured employer or private carrier, or their third party administrator or managed care provider, is required to maintain this proof of certification of the qualified rehabilitation professional.