What are the responsibilities and job description for the Student Trainee (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor) Internship Program position at Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)?
The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development.
This position is located in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Division within a VA Regional Office. Positions filled utilizing Pathways Student Internship Authority, provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in federal agencies while in school.
Qualifications:To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/09/2026.
Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, applicants must meet the Education qualifications for the grade at which they are requesting consideration.
To be eligible and qualify based on Superior Academic Achievement: applicants must possess a conferred bachelor's degree with a 3.0 or higher AND be enrolled in school currently pursuing a Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
Applicants are required to attach the conferred bachelor's degree AND current degree/certificate transcripts.
OR
To be eligible and qualify based on Graduate School Education only: applicants must be currently enrolled in a Master's program and have completed one full academic year of graduate education (18 credits) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
Program Completion and Conversion
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Eligible Interns who have completed Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Job Corps can now count time served in those programs, toward the required 480 total hours, to convert to a permanent federal position. Following completion of the internship program requirements, Interns and VA have up to 180 days to convert to the competitive service.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements:The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.Education:An unofficial or official copy of your transcripts must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.
Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.Employment Type: OTHER
This position is located in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Division within a VA Regional Office. Positions filled utilizing Pathways Student Internship Authority, provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in federal agencies while in school.
Qualifications:To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/09/2026.
Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, applicants must meet the Education qualifications for the grade at which they are requesting consideration.
To be eligible and qualify based on Superior Academic Achievement: applicants must possess a conferred bachelor's degree with a 3.0 or higher AND be enrolled in school currently pursuing a Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
Applicants are required to attach the conferred bachelor's degree AND current degree/certificate transcripts.
OR
To be eligible and qualify based on Graduate School Education only: applicants must be currently enrolled in a Master's program and have completed one full academic year of graduate education (18 credits) in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, clinical rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, career counseling or social work from an accredited college or university.
Program Completion and Conversion
- Interns may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 180 days of successful completion of the program.
- To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:
- Complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program
- Complete their degree or certificate requirements
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted
- Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement, and
- Perform their job successfully.
- If you are graduating in the same semester or term in which you are appointed, you must be able to complete 480 work hours prior to graduation.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Eligible Interns who have completed Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Job Corps can now count time served in those programs, toward the required 480 total hours, to convert to a permanent federal position. Following completion of the internship program requirements, Interns and VA have up to 180 days to convert to the competitive service.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements:The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.Education:An unofficial or official copy of your transcripts must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.
Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.Employment Type: OTHER
Salary : $50,460