Class Descriptions

Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) staff are tasked with providing veterans with individualized career and training services, which can be a daunting undertaking. This course is a broad overview of how an American Job Center (AJC) operates, and the roles and responsibilities of staff members including Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists, Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) staff, and Consolidated Position (CP) staff. Participants will complete knowledge check activities to ensure understanding of an AJC's goals and processes.

There are many guidelines and requirements that dictate working with veterans who are seeking employment. This online cohort course provides participants with information regarding important provisions of veteran-related legislation and regulations and the legal relationship between the DVOP specialist, LVER staff, and CP staff. Participants will examine the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) and the JVSG Program. Using Veterans' Program Letters, along with relevant TEGLs/TENs issued by ETA and WIOA, participants will come to understand the role of DVOP specialist, LVER staff, and CP staff at American Job Centers (AJCs).

JVSG-Funded Staff Foundations: Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) Legal Guidance Overview

As you prepare for your 9636 class, watch this microlearning to briefly learn about the legal guidance that provides the framework for the JVSG program.

This course allows participants to examine the strategies for effectively developing working relationships with veterans, in particular those with significant barriers to employment (SBEs). Participants will study examples of SBEs, discuss the perceptions others have of veterans, learn effective communication techniques to interact with veterans and employers, and explore the contents of an Individual Employment Plan (IEP).

Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists play a critical role in helping veterans become job ready. DVOP specialists not only work directly with veterans, but also work with partners in the American Job Centers (AJC) and other community resources to meet the veterans’ needs.

The DVOP Specialist Core Competency Development course takes a deep dive into the specifics of the DVOP specialist’s roles and responsibilities. This course also provides participants with significant practice in critical identified skills. The course focuses on the application of the roles and responsibilities of the DVOP specialist while also incorporating the soft skills (communication, time management, networking, etc.) that are imperative for DVOP specialists to effectively fulfill their roles and meet the needs of veterans.

Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) staff plays a critical role in helping veterans find and keep jobs. While Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Wagner–Peyser staff work directly with the veteran population to prepare them for career opportunities, LVER staff are responsible for working with hiring decision-makers (HDM) to generate employment opportunities.

The LVER Core Competency Development course helps participants develop the skills and knowledge required to succeed in conducting a variety of outreach activities on behalf of all veterans. Participants will learn strategies for educating potential employers on the value veterans can bring to businesses, as well as the value of the services provided by American Job Centers (AJC), by making presentations to business groups and apprenticeship committees.

Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists play a critical role in helping veterans become job ready. DVOP specialists not only work directly with veterans, but also work with partners in the American Job Centers (AJC) and other community resources to meet the veterans’ needs. The DVOP Specialist Skills Refresher and Cross-Training course is an abbreviated version of the 9608: DVOP Core Competency Development course and is designed to review key DVOP specialist skills. Non-JVSG American Job Center staff who serve veterans will also benefit from participating in this cross-training.

The course takes a dive into the application of the DVOP specialist’s roles and responsibilities. The course allows the participants to practice the tasks that are imperative for DVOP specialists to effectively fulfill their roles and meet the needs of veterans.

Please note that completion of this course does not satisfy the requirement for newly hired JVSG staff to complete core NVTI courses within 18 months of the date of hire.

The Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) plays a critical role in helping veterans find and keep jobs. While Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Wagner–Peyser staff work directly with the veteran population to prepare them for career opportunities, LVERs are responsible for working with hiring decision-makers (HDM) to generate employment opportunities. The LVER Skills Refresher and Cross-Training course is an abbreviated version of the LVER Core Competency Course. This course is designed to refresh the skills covered in the Core Competency Course and to provide cross-training opportunities other business service team members.

The LVER Skills Refresher and Cross-Training course takes a dive into the application of the LVER’s roles and responsibilities. The course allows the participants to practice the tasks that are imperative for LVERs to effectively fulfill their roles and meet the needs of veterans.

Please note that completion of this course does not satisfy the requirement for newly hired JVSG staff to complete core NVTI courses within 18 months of the date of hire.

9610: Career Coaching for Special Populations Foundations – Prerequisite for 9610 Course Series is a self-paced online curriculum that is the foundational prerequisite course participants must take to acquire the necessary knowledge as well as become acquainted with the fundamental resources that are essential to assist clients belonging to any special population.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the capabilities of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), veterans to better assist them in the job search process or career change. We want to acknowledge these additional populations of Native American veterans who have honorably served and will continue to sacrifice for our country: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). Throughout this course, we will utilize the AIAN designation in terms of simplifying the acronym but include relevant information on these additional groups as needed. Participants will examine the needs of these special populations, in particular those that may challenge AIAN and AANHPI veterans from being successful in a job search or career change; and discuss how to empower these veterans to make informed decisions about their career trajectory. As a result of this learning process, this course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire AIAN and AANHPI veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges veterans with disability and accessibility needs face and how to assess their capabilities to better assist them in the employment process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment. Participants will examine the needs of veterans with disability and accessibility needs, particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search and discuss how to empower veterans to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the capabilities of Justice-Involved Veterans (JIVs) to better assist them in the job search process or career change. Participants will examine the needs of JIVs, in particular those that may prevent JIVs from being successful in a job search or career change; and discuss how to empower JIVs to make informed decisions about their career trajectory. As a result of this learning process, this course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire JIVs to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges LGBTQ+ veterans face and how to access their capabilities to better assist them in the employment process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for LGBTQ+ veterans. Participants will examine the needs of LGBTQ+ veterans, particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search; and discuss how to empower LGBTQ+ veterans to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire LGBTQ+ veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the capabilities of rural veterans to better assist them in the job search process or career change. Participants will examine the needs of rural veterans, in particular those that may prevent veterans living in rural communities from being successful in a job search or career change. Participants will also discuss how to empower rural veterans to make informed decisions about their career trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage with and inspire rural veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges older veterans face and how to access their capabilities to better assist them in the employment process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for older veterans. Participants will examine the needs of older veterans, particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search and discuss how to empower older veterans to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire older veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges veterans with substance use disorders (SUDs) face and how to assess their capabilities to better assist them in the job search process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for veterans with SUDs. Participants will examine the needs of veterans with SUDs, particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search; and discuss how to empower veterans with SUDs to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire veterans with SUDs to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges veteran spouses face and how to access their capabilities to better assist them in the employment process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for veteran spouses. Participants will examine the needs of veteran spouses, particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search; and discuss how to empower veteran spouses to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire veteran spouses to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges younger veterans face and how to assess their capabilities to better assist them in the employment process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for younger veterans. Participants will examine the needs of younger veterans—particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search—and discuss how to empower younger veterans to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire younger veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges veterans experiencing homelessness face and how to assess their capabilities to better assist them in the job search process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for veterans experiencing homelessness, with the assumption being that they are not currently positioned or equipped for a comprehensive career change. Participants will examine the needs of veterans experiencing homelessness, in particular those that may prevent them from being successful in a job search; and discuss how to empower these veterans to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire veterans experiencing homelessness to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

This course provides career coaching professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to identify the challenges women veterans face and how to assess their capabilities to better assist them in the job search process. The focus of this course lies in realistic job attainment for women veterans. Participants will examine the needs of women veterans, particularly needs that may prevent them from being successful in a job search; and discuss how to empower women veterans to make informed decisions about their employment trajectory. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to engage and inspire women veterans to successfully reintegrate into the civilian workforce.

The Leadership for Integration of Veterans’ Services (LIVS) course focuses on the principles of leadership and the legislation supporting veterans’ programs. Course participants are individuals who are responsible for the program monitoring and success of Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists, Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) staff, and Consolidated Position (CP) staff. Course topics include an overview of leadership and management concepts, an orientation to the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and the National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI), Priority of Service, measurement tools, and program reporting.

Managing Case Management (MCM) is a course intended to enhance awareness of issues and management techniques related to case management. Participants learn the basic concepts of case management (CM) and understand how to monitor and support the CM process. Participants learn various approaches to case management, conflict management, and handling legal and ethical issues. The course discusses the establishment of a network outside the office.

This course will serve as an overview of the State Veteran Coordinator (SVC) role. Participants will engage in discussions and exercises that establish promising practices and explore challenges related to this role. This course will also support SVCs in networking and building a support system by leveraging NVTI’s Making Careers Happen for Veterans: Community of Practice.

Business services representatives play an important role in connecting veterans with businesses. Establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships with businesses are key elements to serving veterans at American Job Centers (AJCs). In order to nourish this relationship, business services representatives must be privy to both veteran and business needs while practicing exceptional communication skills to engage businesses. This application-based course is designed to help business services representatives, including LVERs, meet the market demands for talent of today and tomorrow by collaborating, innovating, and leading market-relevant business services across talent supply organizations in AJCs.

Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) program grant award recipients, State Workforce Agency (SWA) and American Job Center (AJC) staff are encouraged to attend this course which is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to successfully manage their JVSG grants by: understanding the grant making life cycle and best practice management techniques; recognizing the applicability of current laws relevant to homeless veterans, their spouses and families and the Uniform Administrative Guidance for all grant awards and; examining the phases of grant award administration.

Employment programs for veterans seek to help former military service members secure career-oriented jobs, retain a connection to the workforce, and feel satisfied with their choices. This course prepares Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) personnel to align their program actions with those most likely to achieve stated outcomes. This practical, skill-building training focuses on developing the critical and logical thinking skills necessary to evaluate and implement effective veteran-focused grant projects or programs. The course may also help HVRP teams describe their programs to others using a consistent presentation approach.

Professionals with strong writing skills are able to communicate clearly and effectively in the workplace. Strong writing skills help professionals build relationships with coworkers and clients and construct persuasive arguments when appropriate. In this course, you will learn the essentials of effective writing practices when drafting emails, reports, project summaries, and other writing assignments commonly used in the workplace. Application of these practices will help you be a more proficient and confident writer.

Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) grant award recipients, State Workforce Agency (SWA) and American Job Center (AJC) staff are encouraged to attend this course which is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to successfully manage their HVRP grants by: understanding the grant making life cycle and best practice management techniques; recognizing the applicability of current laws relevant to homeless veterans, their spouses and families and the Uniform Administrative Requirements for all grant awards and; examining the phases of grant award administration.

This course is designed to refresh participants’ knowledge about key concepts from case management (CM) of veterans training. This advanced-level course focuses on addressing some of the more challenging CM skills, including comprehensive assessment, goal setting, developing service plans, and writing effective case notes. Please note that service plans go by many different names, including Individualized Development Plan (IDP), Individualized Employment Plan (IEP), Individualized Service Strategy (ISS), Client Services Plan (CSP), etc.

This course refers to the service plan as an IDP. Participants will identify problems they have experienced in professional practice, brainstorm solutions, and practice specific skills. Examples, case scenarios, group discussions, and exercises are provided.

This course covers the basics of veteran benefits in live online and self-paced learning modalities. You have four weeks to complete the work assigned and may do so from either your home or workspace. Each module within the course includes reading assignments, quizzes, and research assignments (to be discussed/posted on the Discussion Board). The course also includes work-related scenarios that help you analyze and apply what you learned. After completing the course, you will have working knowledge of the basic VA, state, and local veteran benefits necessary to assist the targeted group clients. You will also be able to refer a veteran client for services they need or desire with this new information and have an active network to support those clients.

This course introduces you to the partnership established between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) to better serve Chapter 31 veterans. You will learn about the roles and responsibilities of partnership members and how the National Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) supports coordinating activities among members. Since increasing veteran awareness and utilization of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) is a key focus of the partnership, this course introduces you to the basics of what RAPs are and their benefits. To help get you started supporting the focus on RAPs, you will learn about the roles and responsibilities involved in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program’s processes around RAPs. As well, you will learn about a few ways you can find out more about RAPs after you’ve completed the introduction provided in this course.

In this self-paced eLearning course, you will learn the basic application of the Unformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Upon completion of the course, you will be able to apply the basic provisions of USERRA.

Accessing USERRA 101 and 102 Training: New NVTI Students: Please complete the training in a single sitting at the time of enrollment. If you are unable to complete in one sitting, you will not be able to log back into the course without assistance. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at studentservices@nvti.org.

The basic tenets of USERRA are taught in the 9641: USERRA 101 course and it is important that you complete that course first. The 9642: USERRA 102 course will further expand and build upon that knowledge base. This course will explore the legal basis and definitions of USERRA. Upon completion of this self-paced eLearning course, you will be able to explain the legal basis of USERRA.

Accessing USERRA 101 and 102 Training: New NVTI Students: Please complete the training in a single sitting at the time of enrollment. If you are unable to complete in one sitting, you will not be able to log back into the course without assistance. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at studentservices@nvti.org.

Introduction to the USERRA Statute and Regulations—Interpretation and Application, provides an overview of USERRA from a legal perspective. It is intended to familiarize and equip VETS and ESGR staff with the proper tools and a basic understanding of the law and how it operates—and to enable them to properly identify issues and apply the law to factual circumstances.

This course is also a component of 9631: USERRA Investigators Online.

The Stand Down Grants online curriculum provides an overview of Stand Down grants and each phase of a Stand Down event. Through this online curriculum, you will review how to conduct the four phases of a Stand Down event (initiation, planning, implementation and monitoring, and reporting and closeout). This online curriculum consists of 5 modules corresponding to the following phases of a Stand Down event:

Phase 1: Initiation

Phase 2a: Planning (Preliminary)

Phase 2b: Planning (Designing and Writing)

Phase 3: Implementation and Monitoring

Phase 4: Reporting and Closeout

Each module is followed by a knowledge check that must be completed before proceeding to the next module.

This course provides insights and perspectives about bias that will be useful in reconciling values, attitudes, and behaviors associated with a broader diversity and inclusion conversation. The trajectory of the course broadens your appreciation for the nuances and relationships between DEIA, organizational culture, and the potential bias has to impact our decisions as service providers to the veteran community. The course is conducted via facilitated conversation, thought-provoking Q&A sessions, breakout conversations with other participants, and opportunities to think through the relevance of this material via small group exercises. You will have developed a unique personal perspective about bias and DEIA, tools to mitigate against bias, and the confidence to challenge yourself and empathetically participate in meaningful dialogue in service of US veterans, co-workers, organization leaders and other stakeholders.

Watch Unconscious Bias: Companion Learning to NVTI's 9650 Course

In this microlearning, learn about why we form unconscious biases and what we might do to mitigate their effects on our decision making.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) is a law which establishes certain rights and benefits for employees, and duties for employers. USERRA affects employment, reemployment, and retention in employment when employees apply to serve, or have served in the uniformed services or take action to enforce, assist with, testify about, or exercise a right under USERRA. This course has three required prerequisites: 9641: USERRA 101; 9642: USERRA 102; and 9631: USERRA Investigators Online.

This course is intended to prepare you for the role of USERRA investigator. It is comprised of both lecture and scenario-based activities that will give you the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to perform your role as an investigator.

This course deals with federal hiring procedures to include veterans’ preference (VP), access methods, merit promotion, and how the federal agencies select candidates. It also provides a DOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) process for investigative case processing, analyzing a veterans’ preference file, and developing case investigative plans for VEOA, VP, and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) discrimination in federal hiring. The course improves staff competency in VEOA, VP, and USERRA knowledge and how to investigate a claim made to VETS. The investigator focuses on knowledge and skill application utilizing case examples.

This course follows both discretionary and mandatory funding through the federal grants life cycle and details responsibilities Grant Officer’s Technical Representatives (GOTRs) have in monitoring grants for both compliance with applicable regulations and performance results.

The grant award and administration process falls to the Grant Officer currently located in the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA). It is worthwhile to note the Grant Officer and related responsibilities to processing grants and modifications at the national level are currently provided to the DOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) under a shared services contract with the ETA.

The GOTR is responsible for overseeing the award and management of grants on behalf of the Grant Officer. A GOTR works with the grant recipient on the daily administration of the grant. The GOTR reads quarterly reports and maintains an active file for each grant, including important email correspondence. The GOTR is responsible for technical and financial oversight and is prohibited from directing a grant recipient to undertake any activity that would revise the total award amount, the project purpose or content, the project time period, or the project goals.

This required prerequisite course for 9605: USERRA Investigators is a four-week, online cohort. Weeks 1 and 2 have instructor oversight while weeks 3 and 4 are video based. Weeks 3 and 4 are the course 9643 and are, in almost all cases, part of the larger 9631 class. This, as detailed here, makes 9631 typically a 4-week long course. It will only be on rare occasions that 9631 will be only 2-weeks.

In week 1 you will cover written communication. As an investigator, your ability to communicate effectively through writing will have a significant impact on the rights of the people involved in your cases. The legal implications of investigative writing distinguish investigative writing from everyday writing. In week 1 you will identify strategies for effective case organization; identify the purpose of your writing; recognize how to write effectively to your audience; execute the Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion (IRAC) method; effectively use the active voice your writing; apply an appropriate tone to your investigative writing; and effectively edit your investigative writing.

In week 2 you will cover VETS Investigator Training Advanced Learning (VITAL). The purpose of this content is to provide USERRA Investigators with the most accurate information available in order to successfully conduct USERRA Investigations. At the end of week 2 you will identify the rules and regulations pertinent to USERRA Investigations; describe the USERRA subpoena process; explain comparative evidence/disparate treatment; identify best practices for face-to-face meetings and conferences; and explain issues related to responsible use of federal computers and equipment, how to protect and use privacy information, and the personal consequences of inappropriate use of private information or the loss of investigative records.

Finally, as noted, when combined with 9643 weeks 3 and 4 consist of pre-recorded videos and knowledge checks that are also used as the stand-alone course 9643: USERRA Introduction to Statute and Regulations - Interpretation and Application.