Pre-ETS in New Jersey: A Guide to DVRS, OSYES, and How to Get Started
What Is DVRS?
DVRS stands for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. It is part of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. DVRS is the state agency that funds vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in New Jersey — including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students.
In short: in New York, vocational rehabilitation runs through ACCES-VR. In New Jersey, it runs through DVRS.
What Is Pre-ETS, and Who Pays for It?
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) are federally mandated, no-cost career readiness services for students with disabilities ages 14–21. They were created by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014 and are funded through each state's vocational rehabilitation agency.
In New Jersey, that means DVRS funds Pre-ETS — and an approved provider like Lincoln Square Coaching delivers them. Families pay nothing.
The Five Pre-ETS Service Areas
Every state delivers the same five categories of Pre-ETS:
- Job Exploration Counseling — Helping students learn about careers and connect their interests to potential job paths.
- Work-Based Learning Experiences — Job shadowing, workplace tours, internships, and other hands-on exposure to real workplaces.
- Counseling on Post-Secondary Education — Information about college, trade schools, certificate programs, and other training options after high school.
- Workplace Readiness Training — Communication, teamwork, time management, professional behavior, and the social-and-independent-living skills employers expect.
- Instruction in Self-Advocacy — Helping students understand their rights, communicate their needs, and request accommodations at school and work.
Who Qualifies for Pre-ETS in New Jersey?
A student may be eligible for Pre-ETS through DVRS if they:
- Are ages 14–21
- Have a documented disability (an IEP, 504 plan, or other documentation — see the list below)
- Are enrolled in secondary, post-secondary, or another recognized education program
You do not need to apply for full vocational rehabilitation to receive Pre-ETS. A pre-application referral to DVRS is enough.
Acceptable documentation of disability
Any of the following typically supports a Pre-ETS referral:
- Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Section 504 Accommodation Plan
- Social Security Administration disability beneficiary award letter
- School psychological assessment
- Official diagnosis or disability determination
- Verification of eligibility for special education under IDEA
- Verification of eligibility for a Section 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act
- Documentation supporting eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Medical records confirming disability (with appropriate releases)
- State or federal agency documentation of disability
What About OSYES?
Out-of-School Youth Employment Services (OSYES) is a DVRS-funded program for young adults with disabilities ages 16–24 who are not currently enrolled in school. OSYES includes career exploration, job readiness training, and personalized employment planning — all at no cost.
OSYES exists in New Jersey but does not have a direct equivalent in New York. If a young adult has aged out of school programming or never finished high school, OSYES is often the right entry point.
How to Get Pre-ETS in New Jersey
There is no single "correct" pathway. Students can be referred by their school, by their family, or by reaching out to a Pre-ETS provider directly.
Pathway 1: Through your school
Every public high school in New Jersey has a DVRS counselor assigned to it. That counselor partners with the school's Child Study Team to identify eligible students and coordinate referrals. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, the Child Study Team or transition coordinator is a good first stop.
Pathway 2: Through your local DVRS field office
Families can also contact DVRS directly. The DVRS field office directory lists offices by county, and the DVRS central office is reachable at 609-292-5987.
Pathway 3: Directly through an approved Pre-ETS provider
Families and students do not need to wait for a school or DVRS office to act first. They can come directly to an approved Pre-ETS provider like Lincoln Square Coaching, and the provider will prepare and submit the DVRS referral on the student's behalf. You do not need an open DVRS case to begin — the referral itself is the pre-authorization that opens the door to services.
This is especially helpful when:
- A family wants to start services quickly
- A student is in a school that does not yet have an established Pre-ETS partnership
- A student is between schools, in a gap year, or otherwise outside the typical school pipeline
DVRS in New Jersey vs. ACCES-VR in New York
For families who live near the state line, the two systems can be confusing. The big differences:
| New York | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | ACCES-VR (State Education Department) | DVRS (Department of Labor and Workforce Development) |
| Pre-ETS funded? | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-application designation | "Potentially Eligible" (PE) | DVRS pre-application referral |
| Out-of-school youth program | Folded into general VR services | OSYES (ages 16–24) |
| Maximum Pre-ETS age | Up to 22 if still in school | 21 |
The mechanics differ, but the outcome is the same: a student with a documented disability can access free career readiness services without going through a full vocational rehabilitation application.
Why It Matters
People with disabilities are employed at much lower rates than people without disabilities. In 2025, 22.8% of people with disabilities were employed, compared to 65.2% of people without disabilities. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Early intervention changes outcomes. Research shows that students who receive Pre-ETS are more likely to be employed after leaving school, and tend to earn higher wages.
Pre-ETS exists to make those early years count.
Counties We Serve in New Jersey
Lincoln Square Coaching is an approved DVRS provider serving:
- Hudson County — Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne, North Bergen, West New York, Union City, and surrounding areas
- Essex County — Newark, East Orange, Montclair, Bloomfield, Livingston, and surrounding areas
Virtual services are also available statewide.
Learn More
- NJ DVRS Career Services
- NJ DVRS Field Offices
- LSC Pre-ETS Services in New Jersey
- Glossary: DVRS, Pre-ETS, and Potentially Eligible
- FAQ: Pre-ETS, eligibility, and referrals
Interested in starting Pre-ETS or OSYES in New Jersey? Contact Lincoln Square Coaching — we walk families, students, and schools through the DVRS referral process from first call to first session.