This document is a monograph in a personnel development series addressing issues that are pertinent for policy-making personnel concerned with personnel preparation for moderately and severely handicapped populations in the area of vocational preparation. The discussion is divided into three major sections. Section 1 addresses the state of the art in personnel development and includes definitions of terms; information on personnel training programs; personnel certification; research in personnel preparation; current problems, issues, and trends in personnel preparation; and personnel needs. Section 2 provides a series of suggested program guidelines for personnel development with program details for planning and operating preservice and inservice programs. In section 3 five programs are described that have been identified as exemplary in preparing personnel to serve the severely handicapped. Appendixes include performance procedure and professional behavior standards checklists and an annotated listing of suggested readings. (YLB)