Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation: CA & NV

Quick answer

You can contact the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency directly. Tell it you want to apply for services, briefly describe the employment barrier, and ask what information it needs to begin. Keep a note of the request and any confirmation.

The links below belong to the agencies. This website does not submit a VR application or collect your medical records.

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California: contact the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)

At this review, DOR’s Get Started page says its online application portal is unavailable and it cannot accept email applications through its website. It directs people to apply by phone or in person through a local DOR office. Use the official office locator and ask for application assistance.

DOR also currently reports an order of selection: it continues accepting applications and determining eligibility, while newly eligible applicants are placed on a waiting list. DOR says existing approved, signed Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) services continue and its Student Services are not affected. Check the linked current notice for your situation; no opening date or waiting period is promised here.

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Nevada: official online application or agency contact

VR Nevada provides an online application entry page. Read its questions and instructions before entering information. Its official Job Seekers page also lists phone routes for starting the process: 775-823-8100 in northern Nevada and 702-486-5230 in southern Nevada.

Ask staff for assistance if you are unsure about a question, need an accessible alternative, are applying for a minor, or have a court-appointed guardian. The online entry page contains parent instructions and a separate assistance contact for applicants who are blind or visually impaired.

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What to do

Use the official state link or call the appropriate agency office.
Say that you want to request VR services and explain your work-related goal or concern.
Ask what information is needed and how to share it securely and accessibly.
Confirm the application date, any unfinished step, the next contact, and how to request communication assistance.
Keep the confirmation and follow up if you do not understand the next step.

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Confirm what counts as your application

The federal rule recognizes a signed agency application form, a qualifying common-intake form, or another request for services. Each route also requires the information needed to start the eligibility and priority assessment and your availability to complete the assessment. A casual information inquiry alone may not meet all of those conditions.

Application channels and waiting-list status can change. Use the current agency page and request confirmation rather than relying on an old downloaded form or this website as proof of receipt.

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Background, examples & sources

What to have nearby

Your preferred contact information and communication needs.
A brief description of the employment barrier and what you want help doing.
Relevant existing records, if available. Ask before gathering new evaluations.
A place to record dates, names of agency contacts, and next steps.

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A fictional example

A caller says they want VR services, gives the information requested to begin assessment, and asks the office to confirm the application date and next step. They keep a note of the call and any written confirmation. Their personal notes do not replace the agency’s actual record.

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Official information

California DOR: current application instructions (Official agency guidance)
California DOR: office locator (Official agency guidance)
California DOR: order of selection (Official agency guidance)
Nevada: official application entry (Official agency guidance)
Nevada: service and phone information (Official agency guidance)
34 CFR 361.41: when an application is submitted (Federal regulation)

Last source review: 2026-10-10 · Current primary sources reviewed for this introductory scope; individual eligibility and services require agency decisions

Federal text: eCFR Title 34 displayed current through October 8, 2026. Primary sources substantively reviewed October 10, 2026. State agency information, where used, can change, including application routes and waiting-list status.