HOW TO BECOME A VR

Vocational rehabilitation professionals come from a variety of backgrounds. A recent VRA Canada membership survey indicated that members hold degrees and diplomas in social work, human resources, kinesiology, sociology and even engineering and business, among many others.

If you are interested in becoming a VR professional, there are several pathways to achieve this goal. Depending on the certification you intend to pursue, there is information available on each certification from both VRA Canada and the CVRP.

Below is an overview of the certifications available and the requirements to attain and maintain each, listed under the organization that administers them.

DESIGNATIONS WITHIN CANADA

Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP)

Those who are maintaining their RRP, please refer back to the CEU page for information on the domains.

40 CEUs over a two-year period
Note: Not issued since January 2018

Registered Community Support Specialist (RCSS)

Since May 2000, the National Standards and Credentials Committee has been working with college representatives to determine the process for a registry designation for those individuals who are providing front- line community based supports to persons dealing with disabling conditions, chronic health, mental health and addictions.

In Canada, a good portion of trained workers in this facet of rehabilitation are prepared at the college diploma
level.

VRA Canada’s potential support of a “career ladder” concept in the area of the registry is significant in that it recognizes that individuals in the field of rehabilitation gain an initial level of training, enter the labour force, and subsequently re-enter training at a later date. This concept builds on previous knowledge and experience. The Registered Community Support Specialist (RCSS) designation is an option for an individual who holds an approved diploma that includes the six academic core competencies (at a college level) of assessment approaches, disabling conditions and/or disadvantaged groups, interventions and strategies, history and systems, ethics, and communication skills.

Individuals who achieve the RCSS designation would be included in the Association’s registry. To retain the designation, they must remain as a member, adhere to the standards and ethics of the Association and would be required to complete 20 education units within a two-year period.

You will be required to pay a $75.00 plus tax application fee.

20 CEUs over a two-year period

Registered Vocational Professional (RVP)

The Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (hereafter referred to as VRA Canada), in partnership with the Canadian Assessment, Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Society (hereafter referred to as CAVEWAS), in furthering its objectives of ensuring professional standards for its members, administers a registration process. The registration process is an effective means of communicating to the person receiving services, payers, and industry agencies that members have achieved and demonstrated a recognized level of professional competence in the field of vocational rehabilitation.

VRA Canada and CAVEWAS will award the Registered Vocational Professional (RVP) designation in keeping with the association’s mission statement: VRA Canada and the multi-disciplinary vocational rehabilitation professionals it represents are committed to supporting, assisting, and advocating for individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, disabling conditions along the continuum of achieving or restoring optimum vocational and life goals. These outcomes are achieved through purposeful and intentional development of strategies and interventions that are informed and directed by education, research, experience, and skills, as well as ongoing professional development, unique to the discipline and profession of vocational rehabilitation.The CAVEWAS Society Mission Statement: CAVEWAS is dedicated to promoting at a national level, the significant and unique contributions that the Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment / Placement practitioners make to the vocational rehabilitation services field.

The decision to grant the RVP designation is based on a careful review and evaluation of the applicant’s education, employment experience directly related to the vocational / employment services field, and references from peers and supervisors. Although the CAVEWAS Board of Directors is responsible for approving policies and procedures for approval process—and therefore the integrity of the review process—the authority for granting the designation is given to the CAVEWAS RVP Review Committee. The Review Committee is comprised of professional members of the society who have extensive vocational / employment experience in either the public, private, or non-profit sectors.

Individuals who achieve the RVP designation would be included in the Association’s registry. To retain the designation, they must remain as a member, adhere to the standards and ethics of the Association and would be required to complete 20 education units within a two-year period.

You will be required to pay a $100.00 plus tax application fee.

20 CEUs over a two-year period

CERTIFICATIONS WITH CVRP

Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals Transferable Skills Analysis (CVRP TSA)

The College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals is pleased to announce they have developed a pathway for Registrants who do or want to do TSA work.

The College developed a pathway that will evaluate the Registrant’s demonstrated competency while addressing the critical requirement to protect the public. Current CVRP Registrants wanting to do, or continue doing, TSA work must complete the requirements by the end of December 31, 2021.

All future CVRPs wanting to do TSA scope of work after December 31, 2021 must complete the requirements as per the application process.

Effective immediately, any Registrant who is doing or wants to do TSA work can apply to be evaluated.