Audiologists provide clinical service to Veterans and other beneficiaries in VHA medical centers - clinics - domiciliaries - nursing care facilities - community care settings - Community-Based Outpatient Clinics - Veterans Outreach Centers - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) offices - and VHA Central Office. In performing these duties - audiologists demonstrate professional knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of theories - principles - and methodologies of the practice of audiology.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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
Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org
OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
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
The Under Secretary of Health - or designee - may appoint a candidate without a license who will be assigned to a research - academic - or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities
In such instances - HR office staff can only appoint these candidates in exceptional circumstances where their credentials demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area
All audiologists who perform compensation and pension examinations perform direct patient care duties and must possess a full - current - and unrestricted license to practice audiology and must meet additional experience requirements
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)
Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis 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 fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation
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
English Language Proficiency
Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
GRADE DETERMINATIONS
In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified
Audiologist - 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
Audiologist - GS-12
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
Performing audiology assessment and treatment intervention
exercising clinical judgment
adapting clinical procedures and techniques
Documenting in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care
Interact with patients - families - and other health care professionals and Performing functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA
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
Preferred Experience: N/A 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
Physical Requirements: Per VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.
Duties
This announcement is for a full performance level - staff audiologists
At this level - audiologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate
Audiologists serve as consultants to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing - tinnitus - and balance disorders
Duties include but are not limited to the following: Diagnoses audiologic disorders
Conducts audiologic - or neuro-audiologic assessments
Treats auditory disorders through various modalities
Provides adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders
Consults with medical center staff on various patient care issues
Staff audiologists may be involved in program evaluations - teachings - trainings
Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday thru Friday - 0800 to 1630 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
