Maybe a school transition coordinator mentioned that your student is "Potentially Eligible," or "PE," for Pre-ETS. Maybe another parent brought it up. Maybe you came across the term while researching career services for your child with a disability and have no idea what it means. Either way, this guide is for you.

PE is one of the more confusing pieces of New York's vocational rehabilitation vocabulary. It is also one of the most important, because it is the doorway through which most students with disabilities access free Pre-Employment Transition Services. This post explains what the designation means, who qualifies, what documentation you need, and what the referral process actually looks like, in plain language.

What Is "Potentially Eligible"?

Potentially Eligible, or PE, is an ACCES-VR designation that applies to students with disabilities who qualify for Pre-Employment Transition Services without going through a full vocational rehabilitation application.

In other words: a student can receive Pre-ETS through ACCES-VR before they have an open vocational rehabilitation case. PE is the pre-application status that authorizes Pre-ETS services. Once ACCES-VR confirms PE status, services can begin, at no cost to the student or family.

This designation exists because of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the 2014 federal law that created Pre-ETS. WIOA requires state vocational rehabilitation agencies to make Pre-ETS available to all eligible students, not just those who have already applied for adult VR services. New York implemented this through the Potentially Eligible designation.

PE vs. an Open ACCES-VR Case: What's the Difference?

This is the single most common source of confusion. Here is the short version:

	Potentially Eligible (PE)	Open ACCES-VR Case
Application required?	No, a PE referral, not a full application	Yes, a full ACCES-VR application
Eligibility evaluation?	Streamlined documentation review	Comprehensive vocational rehabilitation eligibility determination
What services are covered?	Pre-Employment Transition Services only	Pre-ETS, adult employment services, supported employment, training, more
Typical age range	14–22	14+ (no upper limit)
Goal	Career readiness before leaving school	Employment outcome

Most students do not need to apply to ACCES-VR to get Pre-ETS. The PE pathway is faster, lighter on paperwork, and specifically designed to reach students early, during the school years, when career exploration and skill-building matter most.

Who Qualifies as Potentially Eligible?

A student is generally considered Potentially Eligible when all three of the following are true:

Age 14 through 22. Students remain eligible through the day before their 23rd birthday.
Documented disability. This does not have to be a specific diagnosis. See the next section for the full list of documents ACCES-VR accepts.
Enrolled in an educational program. This includes secondary school, postsecondary programs, or other recognized education programs. Students in a documented "gap year" between secondary and postsecondary may also qualify. The student does not need to be receiving special education services. They do not need an IEP. They do not need a 504 plan. They just need some documentation of a disability and the educational enrollment status.

What Documentation Counts?

ACCES-VR accepts a wide range of documentation to support a PE referral. You only need one of the following, though more is fine:

Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Section 504 Accommodation Plan
Social Security Administration disability beneficiary award letter
School psychological assessment
Official documentation of a diagnosis or disability determination
Verification of eligibility for special education or related services 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)
Vocational rehabilitation counselor's observation of apparent disability (in some cases)
State or federal agency documentation of disability If you are unsure whether your documentation qualifies, that is exactly the kind of question an approved Pre-ETS provider like Lincoln Square Coaching can answer, usually in a quick phone call.

The PE Referral Process, Step by Step

In New York, the approved community-based Pre-ETS provider is the entity that prepares and submits PE referrals to ACCES-VR. Schools, families, and students do not submit PE referrals directly. They connect with a provider, and the provider manages the referral from there. Here is how the process typically moves from first conversation to first session:

Step 1: Identify the student. A school transition coordinator, parent, family member, or the student themselves recognizes that Pre-ETS might be helpful.

Step 2: Connect with an approved Pre-ETS provider. Schools, families, and students reach out to a community-based provider like Lincoln Square Coaching. This can happen through a school referral, a direct family inquiry, or a recommendation from another agency.

Step 3: Gather documentation. The provider works with the family to assemble disability documentation from the list above, along with proof of educational enrollment (a class schedule, IEP, or letter from the school).

Step 4: Provider submits the PE referral to ACCES-VR. The provider submits the PE referral packet to the local ACCES-VR district office, where the Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Transition and Youth Services (SVRC TAYS) reviews it. This is not a full ACCES-VR application. It is a pre-authorization request for Pre-ETS specifically. Once ACCES-VR confirms PE status, it issues authorization for services to begin.

Step 5: Services begin. Pre-ETS sessions start, working through one or more of the five Pre-ETS service areas: Job Exploration Counseling, Work-Based Learning Experiences, Counseling on Postsecondary Education, Workplace Readiness Training, and Instruction in Self-Advocacy.

At no point in this process does the student or family pay anything.

Common Questions

Does my student need to go through their school?

No. While schools are a common referral pathway, families can come directly to an approved Pre-ETS provider. Lincoln Square Coaching prepares and submits PE referrals on behalf of families and students who reach out to us first.

Is a PE referral the same as applying to ACCES-VR?

No. A PE referral is a pre-authorization request specifically for Pre-ETS. A full ACCES-VR application is a separate, more comprehensive process for adult vocational rehabilitation services. A student can move from PE to a full ACCES-VR case later if they need adult services, but they do not have to.

What happens when my student turns 23 or graduates?

Pre-ETS eligibility ends when the student turns 23 or leaves secondary or postsecondary education, whichever comes first. At that point, students who need continued support can apply for a full ACCES-VR case. The Pre-ETS experience often makes that transition smoother. The student already has a vocational profile, work-based learning experience, and a relationship with a provider.

Does my student need an IEP to be PE?

No. An IEP is one of the cleanest documentation paths to a PE referral because it satisfies the disability documentation requirement on its own, but it is not required. Any of the documentation listed above can support a PE referral. The PE process is entirely separate from anything happening on the IEP side.

Does ACCES-VR pay providers for PE services?

Yes. Pre-ETS providers like Lincoln Square Coaching are paid directly by ACCES-VR for authorized PE services. That is why these services are free to families.

How PE Compares to New Jersey's DVRS Process

New Jersey does not use the term "Potentially Eligible," but it has a comparable process. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) accepts a pre-application referral that authorizes Pre-ETS without opening a full DVRS case. The mechanics differ; the outcome is the same: a student with documented disability can access free career readiness services without going through the full adult vocational rehabilitation application.

If you live near the state line or your student attends school in a different state than where you live, an approved provider can usually help you sort out which agency to work with.

Why PE Matters

The numbers tell the story. People with disabilities are employed at much lower rates than people without disabilities. In 2025, roughly 23% of people with a disability were employed, compared with 65% of people without a disability (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Research consistently shows that students who participate in Pre-ETS are more likely to be employed after leaving school, and tend to earn higher wages.

The PE designation exists to remove the application paperwork as a barrier, to make sure students can get career readiness support during the school years, when it matters most. The pathway is intentionally light. The hardest part is usually just knowing it exists.

Learn More

Wondering whether your student qualifies as Potentially Eligible? Contact Lincoln Square Coaching. We walk families, students, and schools through the PE referral process from first call to first session.

What Does 'Potentially Eligible' (PE) Mean for ACCES-VR Pre-ETS? A Guide for New York Families