Summary

This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 02/02/2025. Additional applications will be referred as needed.

Qualifications

VA Health Profession Trainees (HPTs) pending the completion of education or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. US Citizens who are pending completion of certification/licensure requirements may be considered for temporary appointment at the GS-11 level as a Graduate Audiologist.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• (1) Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs
• HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org
• OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE
• NOTE: Effective January 1 - 2007 - the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• Licensure
• Individuals must hold a full - current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state - territory - commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• (1) Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist at the GS-11 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that these audiologists provide care only under the supervision of fully licensed audiologists
• Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed
• Failure to Obtain Licensure
• In all cases - the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment
• HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline
• Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date
• Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment
• Loss of Credential
• In collaboration with HR office staff - management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure - which may also result in separation from employment
• Grandfathering Provision
• All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held - including positive education and licensure
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Audiologists may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• (3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Audiologists initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency
• Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Preferred Experience: at least two years of employment as a professional ideologist engaged in the practice of ideology as defined by the appropriate licensing board advanced skill to perform and interpret diagnostic and electrophysiologic tests to full range of patient populations advanced skill to provide treatment interventions including analysis and fitting of advanced amplification technology and signal processing algorithms to a full range of patient populations experience counseling patients and family members on hearing loss experience working with audiology technicians Grade Requirements: GS-11 Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders
• Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA
• Ability to interact with patients - families and other health care professionals
• GS-12 Licensure
• The incumbent must hold a full - current - and unrestricted license in a State - Territory - Commonwealth - or the District of Columbia
• Experience
• In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level - completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower grade level Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level - the following KSAs are required: Skill in determining nature - type and severity of hearing/communication /vestibular disorders
• Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals
• Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Please see education section for Physical Requirements.

Duties

• This position is in the Audiology Department at Harlingen Outpatient Clinic
• The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and patient care areas - involved with the department
• Incumbent is a staff audiologist
• The audiologist at this level plans - conducts - and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment
• The Audiologist: conducts - plans - and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice
• Clinical duties and responsibilities include direct patient care involving a full range of audiology treatment services - including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices - aural (auditory) rehabilitation - and counseling of hearing-impaired Veterans and their family
• identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech - language - and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity
• administers the full range of tests including the testing of auditory nerve function
• evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics
• is responsible for planning - delivering - and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions
• including - but not limited to - the selection and fitting of all types of hearing aids
• programming of digital hearing aids
• performing real ear measurements - issuance of hearing protection devices for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noisy environment
• selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers - telephone amplifiers - radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems
• and inspection - modification - and repair of amplification devices and ear molds
• plans - conducts - and coordinates auditory (aural) rehabilitation - tinnitus - and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients
• designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning
• and designs - monitors - and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure
• serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing and tinnitus
• Is responsible for clinical oversight - mentoring - and precepting Tele health technicians - hearing health technicians - student trainees in audiology
• may also provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information relation to audiology
• completes all documentation in accordance with facility policy
• remains current with new developments in audiology and will maintain professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences and by communicating with other professionals in the profession and related professions
• Communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meeting as appropriate
• review policies and procedures and attend in-service training
• maintains and calibrates specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation
• The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration instruments
• participates in research activities pertinent to clinical audiology
• Although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting - the use of carefully executed audiologic procedures may be a part of a research design
• may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data
• may perform ancillary assignments - including program management duties on an occasional basis - where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8 AM -4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 52764F/52765F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized