Arizona Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

What Pre-ETS Is and Who Qualifies

Pre-Employment Transition Services are federally mandated under WIOA and delivered in Arizona through the Department of Economic Security's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The program targets students with disabilities aged 14 to 22 who are enrolled in any educational program — public school, charter school, private school, homeschool, or GED program.

The qualification bar is deliberately low. A student does not need to be a formal VR client to access Pre-ETS. Students with documented proof of a disability, such as an IEP or a 504 plan, can participate as "potentially eligible" youth without going through the full VR application and eligibility determination process.

This distinction is critical: Pre-ETS is the on-ramp to vocational services, not the full highway. It gets students started with structured career exploration years before they need an Individualized Plan for Employment.

The Five Service Areas

Pre-ETS covers five specific categories, delivered through contracted providers across the state:

1. Job exploration counseling — assessments of interests, aptitudes, and labor market information.
2. Work-based learning experiences — internships, job shadowing, and on-site work exposure.
3. Counseling on postsecondary opportunities — guidance on college programs, trade schools, and credential pathways.
4. Workplace readiness training — soft skills, employer expectations, communication, and self-management.
5. Self-advocacy instruction — understanding rights, requesting accommodations, and communicating needs in employment settings.

These services are typically delivered as short workshops or multi-session programs. They are not a substitute for individualized job coaching or other individualized VR services, which come through the full VR program after formal eligibility.

How to Request Pre-ETS

The referral process is straightforward. A parent, teacher, transition coordinator, or the student themselves can submit a Pre-ETS Request Form directly to the RSA transition team at [email protected]. No VR application is required.

Once the referral is received, RSA connects the student with a contracted Pre-ETS provider in their area. Providers vary by region — larger metro areas (Phoenix, Tucson) have multiple options, while rural areas may have fewer choices and longer wait times.

The IEP team can also initiate a Pre-ETS referral during the annual IEP meeting. Arizona rules call for inviting an RSA VR representative to the IEP meeting starting at age 16, but Pre-ETS registration can and should happen earlier — the program is available from age 14.

The Bridge to Full VR Services

Pre-ETS is designed to feed into the formal Vocational Rehabilitation system. About one year before the student plans to exit high school, the family should submit Form RSA-1298A — the VR Referral Form — to begin the intake process for full VR services.

Full VR eligibility requires that the student's disability constitutes a substantial barrier to competitive, integrated employment. Once approved, the VR counselor and student collaboratively develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), which can fund job coaching, specialized training, assistive technology, transportation assistance, and even college tuition tied to employment goals.

The transition from Pre-ETS to full VR is not automatic, and the intake process takes time. Starting Pre-ETS early — at 14 or 15 — gives the student more time to explore work options before the VR application.

The Arizona IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes the full referral timeline, agency contact paths, and a worksheet for aligning Pre-ETS activities with the IEP's measurable postsecondary goals.

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