Tennessee Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services – for Students and Families What are Pre-ETS and VR? Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services can help you continue your education after high school and get a job. These services are provided by the Tennessee Department of Human Services, a government agency that helps people with disabilities.
What is the difference between Pre-ETS and VR services? Pre-ETS are only for students. VR services are for adults and students who need more services than they can get from Pre-ETS. Information about Pre-ETS What are Pre-ETS? There are 5 types of Pre-ETS. Below are the names and definitions of each:
Job Exploration Counseling – Learning about jobs. Work-Based Learning (WBL) Experiences – Practicing the job skills you have learned at an internship, by volunteering, or at a job. Workplace Readiness Training – Practicing skills needed for all jobs, like talking to others, being professional, and managing your time. Counseling on Postsecondary Education – Learning about continuing your education in college or training programs. Instruction in Self-Advocacy – Learning how to speak up for yourself, request an accommodation like large print or a screen reader, and how your rights and responsibilities change after high school. Am I able to receive Pre-ETS? To receive Pre-ETS, you must:
Be 14 to 22 years old Show paperwork that says you have a disability. This could be your Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan from school, or a letter from your doctor. Be a high school student or continuing your education in college or a training program. How do I sign up for Pre-ETS? To sign up for services:
Ask your teacher: Your teacher will know if there is a person who is already coming to your school to provide Pre-ETS to students. If there is not, your teacher can help start Pre-ETS at your school. Talk to your parent: Your parent will have to sign a permission form so you can receive Pre-ETS. Your parent may have questions for your teacher or the person who will provide you with Pre-ETS. Below are resources your parent can use to talk to your teacher or the person providing Pre-ETS. You and your parent can find out more about how to sign up for Pre-ETS by calling 615-313-4891 (TTY# 615-313-5695) or emailing vr.transitionservices@tn.gov . How do Pre-ETS work at my school? Your school and a Pre-ETS person, sometimes called a provider, will work together to make sure you get what you need to meet your goals for after high school. Sometimes your teacher will help you, and sometimes the Pre-ETS provider will help.
Where and when will I receive Pre-ETS? You can receive Pre-ETS in school or in the community, depending on your needs and goals. You might get Pre-ETS during the school day, after school, on the weekends, or as part of a summer program.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) How will VR services help me? A VR counselor is the person who will help you. There are VR counselors that focus on helping people with Blind or Visually Impaired Services and Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Services .
VR services can help with: Job training Finding a job Keeping a job Getting what you need to do a job, like glasses or technology Transportation Continuing your education in college or a training program VR has a training center called the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center at Smyrna that offers training programs. VR also has Community Tennessee Rehabilitation Centers that provide services to help you get ready for and find work. You can work with a VR counselor to find out which options are best for you.
Am I Able to Get VR Services? To get VR services, you must:
Have a disability and need help to get, keep, or advance to a new position in a job. Want to get a job. You must be an American citizen or have paperwork that says you are allowed to work in the U.S. *Note: If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you can still get VR services.
How do I apply for VR services? You must follow the steps on the VR website to apply for services (TN VR Applying for Services ). Your parent or teacher can help you. Broadly the steps are as follows:
Schedule an appointment by calling (833) 751-0597 or visiting a VR office (VR office locations ). If you call, share if you have a visual impairment or you can contact Jessica Villanueva for VR Deaf and Blind Services instead. Call her at 865-594-9407 or email her at jessica.villanueva@tn.gov . Go to your scheduled appointment, where you will complete the application with the VR counselor. Your appointment can be in person, on the phone, or through a video platform like Zoom or Teams. You will get a letter that says if you can or cannot get VR services. This can take up to 60 days. If you can get services, your VR counselor will work with you to create a plan to help you find a job. This is called the Individualized Plan for Employment or IPE. You will start getting services that are in your IPE. A few important notes:
Bring paperwork about your disability to your first VR meeting, like your IEP or 504 plan, or information from your doctor, like an eye report. If you have SSI or SSDI benefits, talk to the VR counselor. If you need help with the steps to apply for VR, the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help for free. Visit the CAP website or call 1-800-342-1660 to learn more. Important information to know about VR VR can help you find a job, but it will not put you in a job. You must meet the job requirements for which you are applying. VR services usually end once you are comfortable in your job. Pre-ETS and VR: A Continuum of Services Should I apply for VR services? If you will need help getting ready for, finding, starting, or keeping a job, VR services are important. If you are unsure, you should discuss with the VR counselor who serves your school. If you are not sure who this is, you can ask your parent, teacher, or the person who gives you Pre-ETS.
When should I apply for VR services? You should apply 18 to 24 months before you are done with high school.
Can I get Pre-ETS and VR services? Yes, if you need more services than your Pre-ETS, you can get VR services, too. For example, if you need help getting a driver’s license, glasses for a job, or work uniforms, VR can help. When you apply for VR services, the VR counselor will tell you if you need services now.
Resources Student Resources Family Resources 
