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Duties include but are not limited to:

• The audiologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates a full range of audiology and balance evaluation and treatment intervention, including fitting and selection of hearing aids and assistive devices, auditory (aural) rehabilitation, and counseling of the hearing-impaired veteran and their family.
• The incumbent at this level is responsible for providing audiological services to patients who reside in a large geographical area and will conduct, plan, and coordinate all clinics and administrative aspects of a full range of services. Those patients displaying unusually severe and/or multiple impairments may be assigned to the incumbent. The services provided by this individual are available not only to patients at the hospital in which the clinic is located; but also to patients at other VA hospitals in the region and patients who are geographically closer to it than any other Audiology Clinic. Services in Audiology are provided through many different modalities, and can include direct patient care, telehealth, VVC, and remote programming.
• The incumbent is responsible for treatment and rehabilitative services including, but not limited to: fitting and selection of all types of hearing aids; cerumen removal; ear impressions; programming of digital hearing aids; selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, etc.; inspection, modification, and repair of amplification devices and ear molds; and hearing conservation for employees at risk for noise exposure.
• The incumbent will perform special audiological procedures for a diverse range of disease conditions (site of lesions tests, ABR, OAE, and VNG) for the purpose of differential diagnosis of auditory and balance disorders. Other testing includes tinnitus evaluations, central auditory processing (CAP) testing, bone anchored hearing aid evaluations (Baha), and cochlear implant services.
• The incumbent will be responsible for conducting compensation and pension examinations, the results of which will be utilized in the assessment of hearing impairment for adjudication and medico-legal purposes. The incumbent will also counsel veterans and their families, and other persons responsible for his/her care, about the nature, degree, and effect of hearing impairment and treatment options.
• The incumbent will be responsible for providing a comprehensive program of aural (auditory) rehabilitation for hearing-impaired patients and/or groups/families. Such programs may consist of instruction in the effective use of amplification, listening strategies, and optimizing residual hearing.
• The incumbent will be responsible for assisting the audiology clinical liaison in the instruction, supervision, mentoring, and precepting of student trainees in audiology. The incumbent may also provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information related to audiology.
• The incumbent will be responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electroacoustic instrumentation. The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration instruments.
• The incumbent will be responsible for maintaining supplies, equipment, and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency.
• The incumbent maintains a high degree of professional competence through continued education and completes all documentation in accordance with facility policy.
• The incumbent may participate in research activities pertinent to clinical audiology. Although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting, the incumbent may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data.
• The incumbent at this grade level 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. Communication is required by this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary heath care team meetings as appropriate; review policies and procedures and attend in-service training. The incumbent at this grade level performs ancillary assignments, including program management duties on as occasional basis.

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

Basic Requirements:

All applicants must meet the requirements of the position by the time job announcement closes.

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
• Education: Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. ["Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).] NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science.
• Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. NOTE: All audiologists who perform compensation and pension (C&P) examinations are considered to be performing direct patient care duties, and must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology (38 CFR 4.85).
  • The audiologist must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration.
  • Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/ certification/ registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/ certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
• Grandfathering Provision: All audiologists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted [up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or (changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or 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 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.
  • (4) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
• English Language Proficiency: Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

• Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Audiology Practice: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with contemporary professional audiology practice. This knowledge may be evidenced by one or more of the following:
  • (a) At least 1 year of active professional practice or its equivalent. Active professional practice means paid or non-paid employment as a professional audiologist engaged in the practice of audiology as defined by the appropriate licensing board.
  • (b) Academic course work leading to a doctoral degree in audiology or hearing science.

• (a) Work as a professional audiologist directly related to the position to be filled
• (b) At a level comparable to audiology experience at the next lower grade level

• Licensure: The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Education and Experience: In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. For positions involved in research audiology assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [KSAs identified for the assignment.
• Assignments: Audiologists at this grade level are independent licensed practitioners and are considered to be at the full performance level. Employees may be appointed to one of the following assignments:
• Staff Audiologist: Staff audiologists at this grade level 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. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial [(less that 25% of the time). The following KSAs are required:
  • Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies.
  • Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently.
  • Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions.
  • Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals.
  • Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice.
  • Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice.

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.