Frequently Asked
Questions

Preferred Vocational Services (PVOCS) is a vocational rehabilitation company that specializes in helping injured workers maximize their SJDB (Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit) voucher benefits. We handle the entire voucher process from start to finish — program matching, paperwork, filings, insurance carrier coordination, and Return-to-Work Supplement applications. We serve attorneys and injured workers across all of California.

No. All of our services can be conveniently handled online, by phone, or by email. You never need to visit an office in person. While we do have offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles, our entire process is designed to work remotely. Whether you need to submit your voucher, discuss program options, or check on your case status, everything can be done from wherever you are.

Most vocational counselors are working from the same broken state database (CalJobs) that has limited search functionality and incomplete program listings. This means clients tend to get funneled into the same handful of programs over and over. PVOCS built proprietary AI-powered software that searches the full ETPL (Eligible Training Provider List) database statewide — surfacing hundreds of programs that most counselors never find. We don't steer clients toward specific schools. We give them real options and let them choose what's best for their situation, restrictions, and goals. That has never been done before in this industry.

No. PVOCS is not a law firm and we do not practice law or provide legal advice. We are a vocational rehabilitation services company that works alongside attorneys and their clients to process SJDB vouchers and maximize client benefits.

We serve all of California. PVOCS has offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles, and our team works with clients and attorneys in every region of the state. All of our services can also be handled remotely by phone, email, or online — so no matter where you are in California, we can help. Hablamos español.

PVOCS was founded by two of California's most experienced SJDB vocational counselors with over 12 years of combined experience in the industry. Our Co-Founders previously managed one of California's largest voucher processing centers before starting PVOCS.

The Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) voucher is a non-transferable benefit provided by the insurance carrier to injured workers in California. It is worth up to $6,000 and can be used for retraining, education, and career transition expenses. The voucher helps workers who cannot return to their previous job due to permanent medical restrictions gain new skills and start a new career.

The voucher is worth up to $6,000 for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013. This covers tuition and fees at approved training providers, computer equipment (up to $1,000), licensing and certification fees, tools required for training, books and supplies, and up to $500 in miscellaneous expenses like transportation and uniforms. In total, when combined with the $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement, eligible clients can receive up to $11,000 in benefits.

You may qualify if you meet two conditions: (1) your doctor has determined that you have a permanent partial disability from a work injury — meaning you have not recovered 100%, and (2) your employer does not offer you regular, modified, or alternative work within 60 days of receiving the doctor’s report. The injury must have occurred on or after January 1, 2004.

Yes. For injuries on or after January 1, 2013, the voucher expires whichever comes later: 2 years from the date it was issued, or 5 years from the date of your injury. Once expired, the voucher cannot be renewed or used. That’s why it’s important to start the process as soon as you receive it — PVOCS helps ensure no deadlines are missed.

If your employer makes a valid offer of regular, modified, or alternative work within 60 days, you may not be eligible for the voucher. However, the offer must meet specific legal requirements — the work must be consistent with your medical restrictions, within a reasonable commuting distance, and last at least 12 months. If the offer doesn’t meet these conditions, you may still qualify. We recommend consulting with your workers’ compensation attorney.

In some cases, yes. If you experience more than one work-related injury that results in separate permanent disabilities, you may qualify for a voucher for each injury. Each voucher is tied to a specific injury and claims administrator.

The voucher covers: tuition and fees at a California public school or any ETPL-approved training provider; computer or tablet equipment (up to $1,000); licensing, certification, and exam fees; tools and books required for your training program; and up to $500 in miscellaneous expenses such as transportation, uniforms, and supplies. PVOCS helps you maximize every dollar of the voucher.

Training must be at a California public school (like a community college) or a provider that is listed on the state’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). The ETPL is a state-maintained database of approved programs. PVOCS’s AI-powered software searches the entire ETPL statewide to find the best programs for your specific needs — something most counselors cannot do effectively using the state’s own search tools.

Yes. Up to $1,000 of your voucher can be used toward computer or tablet equipment needed for your training program. You will need to provide an invoice or itemized receipt. PVOCS handles the reimbursement paperwork for you.

For injuries between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012, the voucher can be used at approved out-of-state providers. For injuries on or after January 1, 2013, the voucher must be used at a California public school or an ETPL-listed provider in California.

The Return-to-Work Supplement (RTWSP) is a one-time $5,000 payment from the state of California available to injured workers who received an SJDB voucher for an injury that occurred on or after January 1, 2013. This payment is separate from the $6,000 voucher and is in addition to it — bringing your total potential benefits to $11,000.

The application is submitted through the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) website. PVOCS files the Return-to-Work Supplement application on behalf of every eligible client as part of our standard process. We track the deadline and handle all the paperwork so you don’t have to.

Yes. The RTWSP application must be submitted within one year from the date the voucher was served. If you miss this deadline, the $5,000 benefit is lost permanently. This is one of the most commonly missed deadlines in the voucher process, which is why PVOCS tracks it for every client.

Many do not. Some vocational counselors focus only on the $6,000 training voucher and either don’t file the RTWSP or don’t mention it to the client at all. At PVOCS, filing the Return-to-Work Supplement is standard on every eligible case. We believe your clients deserve every dollar they’re entitled to.

Getting started is simple. Submit the voucher and client contact information to us by email ([email protected]), through our website upload form, through Merus Case (under Orders), or by calling us at (916) 800-1676. Once we receive the referral, our team contacts the client within two business days and begins the process.

We handle the entire voucher lifecycle: (1) We contact the client and educate them on their benefits. (2) We use our AI-powered software to search the full ETPL database and match the client to training programs based on their medical restrictions, interests, location, and career goals. (3) We handle all paperwork, forms, and filings with the insurance carrier and the DWC. (4) We file the $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement application. (5) We coordinate computer/tablet reimbursement. (6) We track every deadline. (7) We provide real-time status updates to the attorney and the client throughout the process.

The timeline varies depending on the client’s situation, program selection, and insurance carrier responsiveness. However, PVOCS’s streamlined technology and dedicated team ensure the process moves as quickly as possible. Our goal is to have the client matched with a program and paperwork submitted within the first few weeks of receiving the referral.

PVOCS provides real-time status updates to both the attorney and the client throughout the process. You will always know what stage the case is in, what has been filed, what benefits have been secured, and what the next steps are. No chasing. No surprises.

Absolutely. PVOCS does not steer clients into specific schools or programs. Our AI searches the full ETPL database statewide and presents you with options that match your restrictions, interests, and goals. You choose the program that’s right for you. We’re here to give you choices — not make the choice for you.

It’s one step: send us the voucher and the client’s contact information. You can email it to [email protected], upload it through our website, or submit it through Merus Case under Orders. We take it from there. Your office does not need to manage any part of the voucher process.

No. There is zero cost to your office. Our vocational counseling fee is covered by the insurance carrier as part of the voucher benefit. The attorney and the client pay nothing out of pocket for PVOCS’s services.

Ideally, we need the SJDB voucher (Form DWC-AD 10133.32) and the client’s name and phone number. If you have the client’s email, medical restrictions, or any case notes, those are helpful but not required. We’ll gather whatever else we need directly from the client.

We provide real-time status updates on every case. Your office will always know what stage the voucher is in, what benefits have been secured, and what the next steps are. We communicate proactively — you won’t need to chase us for information.

Absolutely. We are built to manage volume. Our team of counselors, billing specialists, and outreach staff handles cases across the state. Whether you refer one client or fifty, every case receives the same level of attention, communication, and follow-through.

A Lunch & Learn is a free 15-minute presentation where we walk your team through exactly how the PVOCS referral process works, what your clients receive, and how our technology differs from other vocational counselors. Lunch is on us. Your whole office can join on Zoom, or we can come to you in person. You can schedule one at:

Lunch & Learn

Yes. We partner with firms of all sizes across California — from solo practitioners to multi-office firms. If your office handles workers’ compensation cases and your clients receive SJDB vouchers, we can help.

Contact PVOCS. You can call us at (916) 800-1676, text us, email [email protected], or submit your voucher through our website. We will explain your benefits, help you choose a training program, handle all the paperwork, file for your $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement, and make sure you get every dollar you're entitled to.

Not at all. That’s what we’re here for. Our AI-powered software searches thousands of approved training programs across California and matches you to options based on your medical restrictions, your interests, your location, and your career goals. We’ll present you with options and help you decide what’s right for you.

There are hundreds of options. Our clients have enrolled in programs including Sound Healing, Medical Assisting, Travel and Tourism, IT and Computer Training, Business Administration, Graphic Design, Personal Training, HVAC, Cosmetology, and many more. The programs must be at a California public school or an ETPL-approved provider.

No. Your training costs, computer equipment (up to $1,000), licensing fees, tools, books, and miscellaneous expenses (up to $500) are all covered by your voucher. The vocational counseling service from PVOCS is also covered — you do not pay for our services out of pocket.

Yes. Your voucher includes up to $1,000 for computer or tablet equipment needed for your training program. PVOCS handles the reimbursement paperwork. You purchase the equipment and we coordinate with the insurance carrier to get you reimbursed.

If the school you are attending closes, the best option is typically to transfer your credits to another approved school and continue your program. PVOCS can help you navigate this process and find an alternative program. In some cases, you may be eligible for a tuition refund or loan discharge.

Sí, hablamos español. Our team includes bilingual staff who can assist Spanish-speaking clients throughout the entire process. We also have client-facing brochures available in Spanish.

PVOCS's vocational counseling fee is covered by the insurance carrier as part of the SJDB voucher benefit. There is no cost to the client and no cost to the attorney's office. You do not pay us out of pocket.

The insurance carrier (claims administrator) pays PVOCS’s fee directly. This is built into the voucher benefit under California law, which allows up to 10% of the voucher value to be used for vocational counseling services.

No. The counseling fee is a separate allocation within the voucher structure. Your client still receives the full training benefit, computer reimbursement, supplies reimbursement, and the $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement. Using PVOCS does not reduce the client’s training dollars.

Our billing and compliance team has years of experience navigating insurance company processes. We follow up persistently with carriers to ensure voucher payments are processed, reimbursements are issued, and deadlines are met. Carrier follow-through is one of the biggest bottlenecks in the industry, and we have a dedicated specialist focused on it.

PVOCS built proprietary AI-powered software that searches the full Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) database statewide. The ETPL is the state’s official list of approved training programs, but the state’s own search tool on CalJobs is notoriously difficult to use. Our software aggregates and organizes the data so we can find programs that most counselors never see because the state’s interface can’t surface them.

Because the tools most counselors use are broken. The CalJobs search is clunky, incomplete, and hasn’t been meaningfully updated in years. When a counselor can only find a handful of programs, clients end up in the same few schools regardless of what they actually need. That’s how kickbacks and steering happen — limited options create bad incentives. Our technology eliminates that problem by giving clients access to the full range of approved programs across the state.

Never. We have no preferred schools, no financial relationships with training providers, and no incentive to send clients anywhere specific. Our software presents options based on the client’s restrictions, interests, location, and goals. The client chooses. That’s it.

Call: 916-800-1676

Text: (279) 207-2431

Email: info@pvocs.com.

Website: www.pvocs.com.

Calendly (Attorneys: book a Lunch & Learn). Hablamos español.

Our team is available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. You can submit your voucher or contact us through our website at any time and we will respond within one business day.

Yes. You can upload your voucher directly through our website at pvocs.com. You can also email it to info@pvocs.com or submit it through Merus Case. If you prefer, you can call us and we’ll walk you through it over the phone.