Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits Under Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation Laws

The purpose of the present article is to examine the role of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) in the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation system (WC). Within Louisiana, VRCs must attain licensure, establishing a general entry framework for VRCs entering the fields, and standards for VRCs continuing to practice in this arena. Moreover, while licensure statues directly who may enter the profession and ultimately practice, additional parameters, specifically La. Rev. Statute 23:1226 directs the practice of rehabilitation counseling. This includes including provision of a return to work hierarchy, directing the steps involved in this process. Over the last 15 years, specificjuris prudence has moreover offered further directives for daily practices. These steps and further identified protocols are outlined in the present article. Particular programmatic and ethical concerns are presented regarding the practice ofrehabilitation counseling within the workers’ compensation setting in Louisiana.