VRA Canada currently offers the RCSS and RVP designations. In addition, we maintain the RRP designation for members who still hold it.
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.
Please view the links below for additional informaiton and requirements.
You will be required to pay a $100.00 plus tax application fee.
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.
Please view the links below for additional informaiton and requirements.
You will be required to pay a $75.00 plus tax application fee.
Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP)
Note: Not being issued since January 1, 2018. Those who are maintaining their RRP, please refer back to the CEU page for information on the domains.
Other
Certifications available to VR and VE professionals can be obtained through the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals (CVRP). For more information, visit cvrp.ca
CEU Framework
In response to and with the guidance of our members, VRA Canada is launching a new CEU program that is more streamlined and reflective of each member’s unique professional development goals.
Members are encouraged to reflect on their own professional development needs every two years and seek educational opportunities and Continuing Education Units (CEU) that meet their unique needs. The program is anchored in self reflection and Members are encouraged to complete an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and use this as a tool to direct their own learning, so they are better able to fulfil their CEU requirements in a manner that is personalized, ethically responsible, and self gratifying. We are also reminded that ongoing learning is a critical component to developing competence which is an important part of our ethical practise.
Registered Rehabilitation Professional (RRP) designation
Members are required to complete 40 CEUs every two (2) years. CEUs may be earned in four (4) distinct categories noted below with Category A and B requiring minimum credits and Category C and D having maximum credits allowed.
Category A: Minimum of 20 CEUs required every two (2) years
Professional Skills Development in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation
– credits earned by attending conferences, webinars, seminars, courses offered at colleges/universities, on-line learning in the broad field of Vocational Rehabilitation, Vocational Assessment/Evaluation, Counselling, or Disabling Conditions. This category also includes training in technology skills development and report writing/communication.
Category B: Minimum of 6 CEUs required every two (2) years
Professional Ethics
– credits earned by attending courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, offered on-line or in person relating to professional ethical conduct, ethical dilemmas and decision making, and the values and principles that guide the moral behavior of the vocational rehabilitation professional.
Category C: Maximum of 20 CEUs required every two (2) years
Contribution to the Association/Society or to the Profession of Vocational Rehabilitation
– credits earned by conducting research, publishing, presentations, teaching, or volunteer activities on an association committee or Board or to the overall profession.
Category D: Maximum of 4 CEUs every 2 years
Self Care/Personal Growth
-Self care and personal growth activities allow members to meet their own personal health goals and well being as this will ultimately improve their ability to serve clients. Examples of self care include courses in meditation, time management, effective communication, personal fitness etc.
Registered Community Support Specialist (RCSS) designation
Members are required to complete 20 CEUs every two (2) years. CEUs may be earned in four (4) distinct categories noted below with Category A and B requiring minimum credits and Category C and D having maximum credits allowed:
Category A: Minimum of 14 credit hours required every two (2) years
Professional Skills Development in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation, Community Support, Return to Work Strategies
-Examples include credit hours earned by; attending conferences, webinars, seminars, courses offered at colleges/universities, on-line learning in the broad field of vocational / employment and career services / training, assessment approaches, disabling conditions and diverse groups, return to work strategies, helping and interviewing skills. This category also includes training in technology skills development and report writing/communication.
Category: B Minimum of 3 hours every two (2) years
Professional Ethics
– credits earned by attending courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, offered on-line or in person relating to professional ethical conduct, ethical dilemmas and decision making, and the values and principles that guide the moral behavior of the vocational rehabilitation professional.
Category C: Maximum of 6 credit hours required every two (2) years
Contribution to the Association/Society or the Profession of Vocational Rehabilitation
-Examples include credits earned through research, publishing, presentations, teaching, or volunteer activities on an association committee or Board.
Category D: Maximum of 2 hours every 2 years
Self Care/Personal Growth
-Self care activities allow members to meet personal health needs and well being that will ultimately improve the ability to serve clients. Examples of self care include meditation, time management, effective communication, personal fitness etc.
Registered Vocational Professional (RVP) designation
Members are required to complete 20 CEUs every two (2) years. CEUs may be earned in four (4) distinct categories noted below with Category A and B requiring minimum credits and Category C and D having maximum credits allowed:
Category A: Minimum of 14 credit hours required every two (2) years
Professional Skills Development in the field directly related to the area of vocational / employment and career services / training.
-Examples include credit hours earned by; attending conferences, webinars, seminars, courses offered at colleges/universities, on-line learning in the broad field of vocational / employment and career services / training. This category also includes training in technology skills development and report writing/communication.
Category B: Minimum of 3 hours every two (2) years
Professional Ethics
– credits earned by attending courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, offered on-line or in person relating to professional ethical conduct, ethical dilemmas and decision making, and the values and principles that guide the moral behavior of the vocational rehabilitation professional.
Category C: Maximum of 6 credit hours required every two (2) years
Contribution to the Association/Society or the Profession of Vocational Rehabilitation
-Examples include credits earned through research, publishing, presentations, teaching, or volunteer activities on an association committee or Board.
Category D: Maximum of 2 hours every 2 years
Self Care/Personal Growth
-Self care activities allow members to meet personal health needs and well being that will ultimately improve the ability to serve clients. Examples of self care include meditation, time management, effective communication, personal fitness etc.