NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. This position is located at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service. The audiologist at this level conducts a full range of audiology and balance evaluations and interventions - including fitting and selection of hearing aids and assistive devices - auditory rehabilitation - and counseling of veteran and families.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency
Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
Education: (1) 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 (2) 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
NOTE: Effective January 1 - 2007 - the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology
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) 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
(2) 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 the experience requirements under Section 2
D
See 38 C.F.R
§ 4.85
Exception for Non-Licensed Audiologist
(a) Non-Licensed applicants 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)
(b) Non-Licensed individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a fully licensed audiologists at or above the full performance level
(c) Non-Licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-12 grade level until licensure is obtained
(d) Temporary appointments of non-Licensed audiologists may not be extended beyond two years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
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
Management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment
HR Office staff must appoint audiologists according to the provisions in VA Handbook - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section B - paragraph 16 - who have - or have ever had - their licensure revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited or issued/placed in a probationary status
Grandfathering Provision
Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and licensure - where applicable
For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: (1) 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
(2) 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
(3) 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 re-entry to the occupation
(4) 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
(5) NOTE: This grandfathering provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements
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
(1) Education
None beyond the basic requirements
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders
(b) Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA
(c) Ability to interact with patients - families - and other health care professionals
(3) Assignment
Employees at this grade level serve in audiologist entry-level developmental positions
Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention - exercise clinical judgment - adapt clinical procedures and techniques - and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care
Audiologist - GS-12
(1) 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
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level - the following KSAs are required: (a) Skill in determining nature - type - and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
(b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
(c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals
(d) Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations
(3) Assignment
This is the full performance level for 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
The supervisor may assign staff audiologists to any VHA program and setting - such as inpatient or outpatient medicine - primary care - surgery - hearing health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - geriatrics - compensation - and pension
Continued under "Additional Information"
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is located at the Carl T
Hayden VA Medical Center in the Audiology and Speech Pathology service at the Phoenix VA Health Care System
The duties and responsibilities are carried throughout the Medical Center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service
The audiologist at this level conducts a full range of audiology and balance evaluation and treatment intervention - including fitting and selection of hearing aids and assistive devices - auditory rehabilitation - and counseling of hearing-impaired veteran and their family
Duties and Responsibilities include
Clinical: Independently provides comprehensive audiologic evaluation and management for Veterans across a wide range of auditory and balance disorders - in both face-to-face and telehealth formats
Conducts and interprets advanced diagnostic procedures (site of lesions tests - ABR - and VNG) - to support differential diagnosis of auditory and vestibular disorders
Delivers a full spectrum of amplification services - including the selection and fitting of hearing aids - ear impressions - real-ear and electroacoustic verification - programming of digital devices - and follow-up adjustment and troubleshooting
Selects - fits - and verifies assistive listening and communication technologies (e.g. - personal and FM systems - remote microphones - and other hearing assistive devices) to maximize functional communication in daily environments
Provides comprehensive aural rehabilitation - including counseling on effective device use - listening strategies - communication - and optimization of residual hearing for patients and caregivers
Uses tele-audiology platforms to provide remote diagnostic and rehabilitative services when appropriate - including device programming - follow-up care - counseling - and team consultation for Veterans in geographically remote areas
Participates in interprofessional care by consulting with referring providers and other team members regarding audiologic findings - treatment plans - and recommendations for further medical or rehabilitative services
Administrative / educational: Maintains timely and thorough clinical documentation - including evaluations - treatment notes - and communications - in accordance with facility - service line - and regulatory requirements
Ensures that clinical spaces - equipment - and supplies are organized - safe - and operational
Assists with the development - implementation - and review of clinic policies - procedures - and clinical pathways - including protocols for diagnostic testing - amplification - tele-audiology - and aural rehabilitation
Participates in quality improvement and program evaluation activities - contributing data and feedback to enhance access - efficiency - clinical outcomes - and Veteran satisfaction
Assists in the orientation - training - and supervision of new audiology staff and health technicians - including observation - skills development - and feedback on clinical performance
Instructs and supervises audiology students and externs - providing structured teaching - skills modeling - direct observation - and formative feedback to support achievement of academic and clinical competencies
Keeps current with advances in audiology and tele-audiology practice through continuing education - professional meetings - journal review - self-study - and participation in in-service activities
Other duties as assigned: Assists with coordination or limited management of specific clinic programs (e.g. - hearing conservation - repairs - tele-audiology - or specialty clinics) as delegated by the Audiology supervisor
Provides coverage for other audiology providers or clinic functions as needed to support access demands
Performs additional ancillary or special assignments - within scope of practice and training - to support the mission of the Audiology section
Work Schedule: Monday- Friday
7:00AM to 3:30PM Telework: May be eligible for highly qualified candidates Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.