FULLY online and just 2 courses!
What is an Employment Specialist?
An Employment Specialist works closely with people with disabilities and other limiting conditions to help them find and maintain employment. It involves career exploration, career planning and job coaching.
An Employment Specialist also works with businesses on job development — identifying a range of job opportunities for people with disabilities and other limiting conditions — in a variety of employment settings.
It’s a rewarding career that will use your best people skills. For example, in the morning an Employment Specialist may work to help a client learn how to do a specific grocery store job, and in the afternoon, meet with potential employers to develop job opportunities for other clients.
Maine has a critical shortage of Employment Specialists and is in a constant state of recruiting for these positions. Opportunities include positions at the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services, the Maine Office of Behavioral Health and many community rehabilitation agencies.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary in Maine for an Employment Specialist is $51,279.
The Employment Specialist Certification can be completed in just two Fully Online courses — one in the Fall Semester, one in the Spring Semester
The best part: One of the courses is TUITION FREE. It’s fully funded through a training grant funded by the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan.
REH 270 Fundamentals of Vocational Counseling and Placement
(Fall Semester, beginning Aug 28 2023)
An introductory course which introduces students to foundational concepts, underlying values, ethical guidelines, definitions, and philosophy of community employment, both in the educational and service delivery systems. Informed choice, self-determination, and active participation in the employment process are emphasized.
REH 271 Applied Techniques of the Vocational Process
(Spring Semester, beginning Jan 16 2024)
An advanced course which introduces students to the process of analyzing local labor market information, and identifying employment trends to inform the job development process. Emphasis includes theory and philosophy in guidance and rehabilitation settings relating to persons with difficulties in the vocational decision-making process.