CERTIFICATION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), Branch of Medical Standards and Rehabilitation (BMSR), is soliciting vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs) who live in the folllowing areas of the state of Louisiana: Houma/Thibodaux, Zip Codes beginning in 703; Lafayette, Zip Codes beginning in 705; Lake Charles, Zip Codes beginning in 706;and Baton Rouge, Zip Codes beginning in 707 and 708. In the state of Texas OWCP is soliciting VRCs who live in the area of Beaumont, TX, Zip Codes beginning in 776 and 777. Currently OWCP certified counselors who live in these areas are exempt from applying. This announcement does not affect their status with OWCP. OWCP/BMSR intends to certify and contract with VRCs in these areas to provide direct vocational rehabilitation services for injured workers covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' and the Federal Employees' Compensation Acts. OWCP certification involves 1) minimum qualification criteria, 2) rating of educational and experience factors, 3) selection of those counselors with the highest ratings, 4) attendance at a workshop, and 5) a contractual agreement to follow OWCP standards. The minimum qualifications for consideration are: 1) a bachelor degree from an accredited four year college or university; 2) and two years' workers' compensation vocational rehabilitation counseling experience. New procedures require VRCs to submit to the OWCP National Office an application package, original and duplicate, consisting of: (1) a narrative summary which provides a complete and detailed description of their work experience and educational background; (2) transcripts supporting the college/university degrees obtained and references from employers or contractors to verify experience and rehabilitation counselor employment; (3) copies of current professional certifications with a brief description of the requirements (i.e. C.E.U.s, testing, etc.); and a signed cover letter or statement indicating that the application package demonstrates the intent to be available to provide direct services to injured workers covered under OWCP, and including the folllowing statement: "I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all information, statements, and documents herein presented are true, correct, complete and made in good faith, under penalty of disqualification and prosecution under the law". The training workshop is planned for October 29-30, 1998 in New Orleans, LA. OWCP will provide a memorandum of attendance which VRCs may use to apply for continuing education units. Certification extends for a basic one year period followed by an option period, not to exceed one year. Evaluation of counselor's performance will determine whether an option is renewed. The performance of VRCs selected will be evaluated on: timeliness of services, the quality of the rehabilitation services, and adherence to OWCP procedures and instructions from OWCP staff. Interested VRCs are hereby asked to forward the above information to Virginia Miller, MD, Chief, Branch of Medical Standards and Rehabilitation, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-3522, Washington, DC 20210 no later than September 25, 1998. WEB: NA, NA. E-MAIL: NA, NA. Posted 08/26/98 (W-SN241981).

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0575 19980828\SP-0014.MSC)