New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 12 - LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 51 - VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES
Subchapter 4 - VOCATIONAL EVALUATION
Section 12:51-4.3 - Short-term comprehensive vocational evaluation

(a) Short-term comprehensive vocational evaluation is an individualized, timely, and systematic process, lasting from three to five days, in which a person seeking employment, in partnership with the evaluator and the DVRS counselor, learns to identify viable vocational options and develop employment goals and objectives that will lead to an outcome of competitive employment.

(b) The short-term comprehensive vocational evaluation shall include intake procedures; orientation; vocational exploration; person centered planning focusing on expected vocational outcomes and interests; testing which assesses an individual's learning style, dexterity, aptitudes and skills; and the appropriate work samples, if necessary. The evaluation shall also identify the reasonable accommodations, adaptations and supports, such as assistive technology, needed to remove or minimize barriers to competitive integrated employment.

(c) An individualized written evaluation plan shall be developed with the input of the person seeking employment and the evaluator, and agreed to by the DVRS counselor. It shall be modified, as necessary, with the input of the person seeking employment.

(d) The length of the short-term comprehensive vocational evaluation shall be three to five days depending upon the specific needs of the individual and agreement between the individual, the evaluator, and the DVRS counselor. The days need not be consecutive. A full day consists of five hours, of which three hours will be devoted to actual testing. Two hours can be used to determine appropriate instruments, grading the tests, and writing the report. The evaluation shall result in the development of a relevant employment plan that is the result of integrating the following information: work history; previous training and education; economic status and the impact of the loss of benefits; relevant medical and diagnostic information; functional abilities; employment and training opportunities in the community; interests of the individual; and support needs and accommodations, including assistive technology; or a determination that a vocational program is not appropriate at this time.

(e) An exit interview shall be conducted and a written evaluation report prepared which is: shared with the individual seeking employment; disseminated in a timely manner to agencies and individuals responsible for implementing the report recommendations; relevant to the desired employment outcome; and responsive to the referral questions.

(f) The rehabilitation organization will maintain a current list of vocational assessment instruments, competency exams, aptitude and interest tests available for the evaluation.

(g) If work samples are used, written instructions must specify: the materials used; the equipment used; the layout; methods for administration; interpretation of scoring; the population upon which the norms were established for these samples; and the industrial time standards for the work being performed.

(h) If situational assessments are used, the ability of the organization to provide the following must be documented: that there is adequate supervision; that the job site is safe; that there is a system for measuring appropriate work behaviors; the ability to provide or obtain job accommodations; that all aspects of the program are accessible (no physical, attitudinal, communication, or transportation barriers); what is expected in terms of quality and quantity of work; a description of the physical demands of the job; the task and demands related to the goals of the situational assessment are identified; and other issues as appropriate to the person seeking employment.

(i) Short-term comprehensive vocational evaluation, other than situational assessment, shall be carried out in a separate room with appropriate space, light, and ventilation. Sound levels shall not be so excessive as to interfere with the evaluation process.

(j) The short-term comprehensive vocational evaluation will be conducted by a vocational evaluator who: shall have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation or a related field; shall have successfully completed at least one basic and one advanced course in test and measurements; shall come to the position with two years of relevant experience; shall be prepared to sit for the Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE), a national examination, within three years of hire; shall be supervised by an individual who meets the CARF definition of Vocational Specialist or Vocational Evaluator; participates in ongoing relevant training in vocational evaluation and assessment, such as the biannual Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Association (VEWAA) vocational evaluation forum, regional CRP training, and New Jersey DVRS sponsored training that is appropriate to the profession. An alternative to preparing and sitting for certification through Commission on Certification of Work Adjustment and Vocational Evaluation Specialists (CCWAVES) is to attend five courses offered through the Region II Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP II): Vocational Assessment for Beginners, Functional and Situational Assessment, Vocational Evaluation Methods, Vocational Assessment Tools and Advanced Vocational Evaluation. Completion of these courses followed by passing an examination that assesses the person's competency may be substituted for CCWAVES certification.

(k) After receiving the initial approval, an organization shall have an evaluator certified by the CCWAVES in order to continue to provide services. Thus, when first applying, an organization will be given up to three years to qualify the evaluator for CCWAVES. Absent extenuating circumstances, no extensions will be granted subsequent to the three-year qualifying period. Organizations that choose the RCEP II alternative shall demonstrate the individual's competency via examination within the same time period. Absent extenuating circumstances, no extensions will be granted subsequent to the three-year qualifying period.