Oregon Pre-ETS and Vocational Rehabilitation for Students with Disabilities

What Pre-ETS Actually Covers in Oregon

Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation runs two separate employment pipelines for students with disabilities, and the distinction matters more than most families realize. Pre-Employment Transition Services are the earlier, broader pathway — available to any enrolled student aged 14 to 21 who has an IEP, a 504 plan, or a documented disability. No formal eligibility determination required, no waitlist, and no cost to the family.

The five core Pre-ETS services are job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, postsecondary counseling, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self-advocacy. These can be delivered in school, at community sites, or through contracted providers working with your regional Education Service District.

The critical difference between Pre-ETS and standard adult VR services is access. Pre-ETS bypasses the formal intake process entirely. Adult VR requires clinical eligibility documentation proving that a physical or mental impairment creates a substantial impediment to employment — and Oregon VR operates under an Order of Selection waitlist that can delay services for months or longer depending on your priority category.

How to Apply: Form DHS 1723

The application form is DHS 1723, and getting it right the first time avoids processing delays. The form has three sections that each require specific information.

Page 1 — Student Demographics. The student's legal name, school name, and a functional description of their disability or work limitations. A Social Security Number is optional, but if school staff are completing the form, the student's 8-digit Secure Student Unique Identifier (SSID) must be included.

Page 2 — Postsecondary Vision. The student records their postsecondary goals. If they haven't settled on a specific career path, checking the "In progress" box is perfectly acceptable.

Page 3 — Service Selection and Signatures. The student checks which of the five Pre-ETS areas they want. Three signatures are needed: the student (mandatory if over 18), a school staff member verifying enrollment and disability documentation, and a parent or guardian (mandatory if the student is under 18 or under court-ordered guardianship).

Submit the completed form to [email protected] or fax it to 503-947-5025.

The Order of Selection: How Adult VR Prioritizes Cases

Once a student ages out of Pre-ETS eligibility or needs more intensive services than the five core areas cover, the next step is standard adult VR. This is where the waitlist enters the picture.

Oregon VR assigns applicants to three priority categories based on the severity of their functional limitations:

• Priority Category 1 — individuals with the most significant disabilities, meaning substantial barriers in three or more functional areas. Served first.
• Priority Category 2 — individuals with significant disabilities affecting at least one functional area. Longer wait times.
• Priority Category 3 — eligible individuals without substantial functional barriers. The longest wait.

The practical takeaway is straightforward: apply for Pre-ETS as early as age 14 to access services that carry no waitlist, and begin discussing the adult VR referral process while Pre-ETS is still active so you can confirm eligibility and current Order of Selection status before the transition happens.

Timing the Pre-ETS to VR Handoff

The smartest approach is running both tracks in parallel during the student's final years of school eligibility. A student can receive Pre-ETS through their school program while simultaneously applying for adult VR services. The adult VR application starts the Order of Selection clock, and by the time school services end, the student may already have an active VR case.

For students pursuing a modified diploma, extended diploma, or alternative certificate, school-based transition services continue through the end of the school year in which they turn 21. That extended timeline creates room to stack Pre-ETS, begin adult VR intake, and coordinate with the student's CDDP or brokerage for a seamless employment services handoff.

The Oregon IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes a coordinated timeline tracker that maps Pre-ETS milestones against adult VR deadlines so nothing falls through the gap between systems.

See more Oregon guides →