411-345-0030 Employment Provider Qualifications and Training Requirements (1) EMPLOYMENT PROVIDER TYPES. A qualified provider of employment services must be one of the following: (a) A provider agency certified and endorsed in accordance with OAR chapter 411, division 323. (b) A qualified independent provider. (A) An independent provider who is employed by an individual may only provide job coaching. (B) An independent provider who is an independent contractor may only provide job development and discovery. (2) EMPLOYMENT PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS. (a) A provider agency or independent provider of employment services must: (A) Complete the provider enrollment requirements in accordance with OAR chapter 411, division 370. (B) Obtain a Medicaid Performing Provider Number in accordance with OAR chapter 411, division 370. (C) Have a job description or Service Agreement with clearly stated job responsibilities, service requirements, service outcomes, and duties specific to the provider's area of specialization. The job description or Service Agreement must be current, signed, and dated by the provider. (b) CREDENTIALING. (A) A provider agency must have at least one employee in a supervisory position who has Department-approved credentialing. (B) An independent provider who is an independent contractor must have Department-approved credentialing. (3) JOB DEVELOPMENT. A provider of job development support must be qualified as a vendor through Vocational Rehabilitation and hold a current contract for Vocational Rehabilitation job placement services. (4) DISCOVERY. A provider of discovery support must meet the following requirements: (a) Be qualified as a vendor through Vocational Rehabilitation and hold a current contract for Vocational Rehabilitation job placement services. (b) Satisfy Department-approved training requirements for discovery prior to delivering discovery support. (5) BENEFITS COUNSELING. (a) An employment professional delivering benefits counseling as part of employment path services must meet the following requirements: (A) Be employed by a provider agency certified and endorsed to deliver employment services. (B) Be certified as a benefits counselor by completing a Department-approved certification program and completing the annual training required to maintain certification. (C) Complete the Department-approved online core competencies for supported employment professionals within one year of employment. (b) Documentation of certification and training must be maintained in the benefit counselor's personnel file. The case manager must verify the benefits counselor has Department-approved certification. (6) EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS. (a) An employment professional must possess and demonstrate all of the following qualifications: (A) Knowledge of developmental disabilities services. (B) Knowledge of best practice methodologies regarding employment services. (C) Knowledge of the rules governing employment services. (D) Ability to provide services designed to support successful employment outcomes consistent with individualized career goals, including goals identified in an individual's Individual Support Plan and Career Development Plan. (E) Ability to support individuals to maintain and be successful in employment. (F) Demonstrate by background, education, references, skills, and abilities, the employment professional is capable of safely and adequately performing the tasks to support an individual's Service Agreement or Individual Support Plan and Career Development Plan including, but not limited to, all of the following: (i) Ability and sufficient education to follow oral and written instructions and keep any records required. (ii) Responsibility, maturity, and reputable character exercising sound judgment. (iii) Ability to communicate with the individual. (iv) Training of a nature and type sufficient to ensure the employment professional has knowledge of emergency procedures specific to the individual receiving services. (b) An employment professional must self-report any potentially disqualifying crimes under OAR 407-007-0281 and potentially disqualifying conditions under OAR 407-007-0290 to the Department, or the designee of the Department, within 24 hours. (c) SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. (A) An employment professional must complete the following supported employment training: (i) At least one Department-approved competency-based supported employment training: (I) Within 90 calendar days from the date of employment (for benefits counselors, this requirement is satisfied through the credentialing); or (II) For independent providers, before enrollment. (ii) The Department-approved online core competencies for supported employment professionals: (I) Within one year from the date of employment; or (II) For independent providers, before enrollment. (iii) Twenty-four hours of Department-approved supported employment training every two years based on the calendar year. This supported employment training satisfies the requirement for 12 hours of job-related training required annually in OAR 411-323-0050. (iv) Employment professionals must complete a Department-approved training for Discovery prior to delivering Discovery services. (B) Documentation showing an employment professional has completed the training requirements must be maintained in the employment professional’s personnel file and provided to an individual's case manager at, or prior to, the individual's annual Individual Support Plan meeting. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 409.050, 427.104, 427.154 & 430.662 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 409.010, 427.007, 427.101, 427.104, 427.154, 430.610 & 430.662 History: APD 20-2025, amend filed 12/24/2025, effective 01/01/2026 APD 38-2022, minor correction filed 07/22/2022, effective 07/22/2022 APD 41-2019, amend filed 10/29/2019, effective 11/01/2019 APD 45-2018, amend filed 12/28/2018, effective 12/28/2018 APD 21-2018, temporary amend filed 07/02/2018, effective 07/02/2018 through 12/27/2018 APD 33-2017, amend filed 12/29/2017, effective 01/01/2018 APD 22-2016, f. & cert. ef. 6-29-16 APD 31-2015(Temp), f. 12-31-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16 thru 6-28-16 APD 45-2014, f. 12-26-14, cert. ef. 12-28-14 APD 27-2014(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-1-14 thru 12-28-14 SPD 1-2012, f. & cert. ef. 1-6-12 Reverted to SPD 14-2011, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-11 SPD 14-2011, f. & cert. ef. 7-1-11 SPD 19-2011(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-1-11 thru 12-28-11 SPD 5-2011(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 2-7-11 thru 8-1-11 Renumbered from 309-047-0010, SPD 23-2003, f. 12-22-03, cert. ef. 12-28-03 MHD 1-1997, f. & cert. ef. 1-31-97 MHD 13-1990, f. & cert. ef. 12-7-90 MHD 7-1990(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 6-12-90 MHD 9-1983, f. & ef. 6-7-83 MHD 26-1982(Temp), f. & ef. 12-3-82