West Virginia Pre-ETS and Vocational Rehabilitation for High School Students

What Pre-ETS Are and Who Qualifies

Pre-Employment Transition Services are group-based vocational supports provided by the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) to students with disabilities ages 14 through 21 who are enrolled in an educational program. Unlike individualized VR services, Pre-ETS do not require a formal eligibility determination or an Individualized Plan for Employment.

Any student with an IEP or 504 plan qualifies. DRS uses the term "potentially eligible" — meaning students can access Pre-ETS without completing a formal VR application. This is a significant advantage because it bypasses the Order of Selection waitlist entirely.

Pre-ETS cover five mandated service areas:

• Job exploration counseling — career assessments, interest inventories, labor market research
• Work-based learning experiences — community placements with real employers
• Counseling on postsecondary opportunities — college tours, vocational school visits, program research
• Workplace readiness training — time management, professional communication, workplace expectations
• Instruction in self-advocacy — speaking up in meetings, understanding rights, requesting accommodations

How to Get DRS Involved in the IEP Process

The school should invite a DRS transition counselor to IEP meetings starting around 10th grade, with a formal referral by 11th grade. But schools do not always take this step on their own.

Parents can initiate the process by signing the Consent to Invite Outside Agencies form. This form must be completed and submitted at least 45 days before the annual IEP meeting to give DRS time to assign a counselor. Without this signed consent, DRS cannot legally attend the meeting.

The 2023 WVDE-WVDRS Cooperative Agreement mandates interagency collaboration between schools and DRS. If a DRS counselor fails to attend scheduled IEP transition meetings, parents should escalate to the DRS Field Office Supervisor and reference this cooperative agreement directly.

The DRS Referral Through Pathways to the Future

DRS operates the Pathways to the Future portal, which is the central hub for student transition and Pre-ETS resources in West Virginia. This is where referral forms, career analysis portfolios, and service descriptions live.

Parents or school staff can initiate a DRS referral through the portal or by contacting the local DRS field office directly. The referral should happen during the student's sophomore or junior year, not at graduation.

Moving from Pre-ETS to Individualized VR Services

Pre-ETS build foundational skills, but they are general services. For students who need intensive, individualized support — college tuition assistance, vocational training, assistive technology, job coaching — the next step is formal VR eligibility.

To qualify for individualized VR services, the student must have a documented physical or mental impairment that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment, and they must need VR services to achieve an employment outcome. Once determined eligible, the student works with a DRS counselor to develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

The IPE is distinct from the IEP. The IEP focuses on educational goals. The IPE focuses on a specific employment outcome — what job the student will pursue, what training or supports they need to get there, and what DRS will fund. The two plans should complement each other, with the IEP's transition goals feeding into the IPE's employment objectives.

The Order of Selection — and Why It Recently Changed

When DRS lacks resources to serve all eligible individuals, federal law requires an Order of Selection system that prioritizes applicants by severity of disability. Eligible individuals who do not meet the active priority categories are placed on a waiting list.

A significant recent development: DRS reopened Priority Category 2 (individuals with significant disabilities) on February 1, 2026, and Priority Category 3 (individuals with non-significant disabilities) on May 1, 2026. This means that as of mid-2026, waiting times for VR services have been effectively eliminated across all priority categories.

However, families should be aware that the DRS Director can re-establish waitlist restrictions at any time if state funding is reduced. The current open status is not guaranteed to remain permanent.

Specialized DRS Employment Programs

Beyond standard Pre-ETS and VR services, DRS funds several targeted employment programs:

Work-Based Learning Experiences place students in community-based positions through local Community Rehabilitation Programs. Students complete up to 40 work hours over 60 days and must be paid at least the state minimum wage.

Career Exploration Opportunities (CEOs) are an intensive 24-hour group curriculum completed over four consecutive days. Students get direct training in career planning, job applications, mock interviews, professional dress, and self-advocacy.

The Student Transition to Employment Program (STEP) is a West Virginia-specific model funded jointly by the Developmental Disabilities Council and DRS. It trains local special education teachers and classroom aides to register as certified DRS vendors, so graduating students receive job placement and coaching from a school professional they already trust.

Project SEARCH is a one-year, business-led program that takes place entirely at a host employer's workplace. Students combine daily classroom instruction with hands-on vocational rotations to develop competitive, marketable work skills.

The West Virginia IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide covers the full DRS referral workflow, explains how to coordinate the IPE with the IEP, and includes timelines for every step from Pre-ETS enrollment through competitive integrated employment.

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