Clarification from the agency

Current Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs Employees

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An Audiologist at this level is an independent licensed practitioner and must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying a wide range of theories principles and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations. The audiologist at this level conducts, plans, and coordinates clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice. Audiology services include comprehensive hearing testing, hearing aid prescription and management, and Compensation and Pension hearing examinations.

The incumbent is responsible for independent diagnostic assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred to the Audiology Section without limitation as to difficulty or complexity. The incumbent will be responsible to conduct interviews with the patients and appropriate family members or friends; and to select, administer and interpret the diagnostic test results necessary to detect and evaluate the presence of a hearing disorder.

In carrying out the clinical duties and responsibilities of this position, the incumbent is responsible for (1) assessing patient conditions from examination, observation and consultation with other members of an interdisciplinary health care team; (2) utilizing diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary audiology practice; (3) developing an appropriate plan of care and delivering treatment as designed and consistent with principles of evidence-based practice; (4) documenting evaluation and treatment actions and outcomes in appropriate formats in a timely manner, in accordance with facility policy, and completing all related patient care tasks; (5) reporting the findings to Veterans and their families, and to professional colleagues; and (6) optimizing clinical safety and efficiency by maintaining supplies, equipment in good working order.

The incumbent 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 audiology and hearing disorders.

Professional interpersonal communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate, review policies and procedures, and attend in-service training.

The incumbent may participate in research activities pertinent to audiology. Although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting, the use of carefully executed procedures may be a part of a research design. The incumbent may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data.

The incumbent may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial.

In addition to clinical duties of a staff audiologist at the full practice level, incumbent provides patient care within the VANCHCS TeleAudiology program with responsibilities including:

1. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of contemporary audiology practices;
2. Performs under the general direction of the TeleAudiology Section Chief with an in-depth understanding of telehealth principles and practices and application of telehealth to audiology practice;
3. Works toward accomplishing TeleAudiology program goals;
4. Provides annual competency assessments for the TeleAudiology technicians for which the clinician works with regularly;
5. Communicates regularly and effectively with TeleAudiology Section Chief;
6. Responsible for and/or oversees reporting and initiation of work order requests for telehealth equipment function and connectivity failures to national telehealth helpdesk (OCCHD), local IT, patient site IT, and patient site biomedical engineering department;
7. Updates and advises TeleAudiology Section Chief and administrative staff of TeleAudiology clinic appointment access issues, such as clinic delays, cancellations, and reschedules;
8. Provides outpatient appointments consistent with scheduling directives and documentation requirements;
1. Maintains professional relationships with distant, patient site primary care and specialty clinics to facilitate smooth transition for Veterans when additional medical evaluation or treatment is recommended;
10. Provides TeleAudiology Section Chief with periodic reports via regularly scheduled meetings, on TeleAudiology patients, services, and equipment;
11. Responsible for set-up and maintenance of telehealth cart, hearing aid programming software and other related items at all telehealth locations for which clinician works with regularly.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 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
  • 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 Au.D. 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.
  • 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.
  • The Under Secretary of Health, or designee, in VHA Central Office may waive the requirement for licensure under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 of a candidate 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 the experience requirements under Section 2. D. See 38 C.F.R. § 4.85.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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:
  1. Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders.
  2. Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA.
  3. Ability to interact with patients, families and other health care professionals.
• 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.

• 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:
  1. Skill in determining nature, type and severity of hearing/communication /vestibular disorders.
  2. Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders.
  3. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals.
  4. Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.
• 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. Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders, conduct audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments, treat auditory disorders through a various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders. Audiologists consult with medical center staff on various patient care issues. Staff audiologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training and research activities. Among the modalities provided are individual, family and group audiologic rehabilitation.

1. Currently Telehealth Certified within the VA (or equivalent in private sector).
2. Proficient in the use of Otosuite.
3. Proficient in the use of the Aurical Free Fit for hearing testing and hearing aid fittings.
4. MINIMUM 1 year of experience in Tele-Audiology.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.