Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates are encourage to apply. Facility and agency employees will be considered before all others. This position is listed on the annual determination of staffing shortages and Veterans Preference does not apply to this recruitment. Veterans are encouraged to apply and will receive full consideration. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Health Technician-Audiology (HTA) works under the supervision of a GS-12 staff audiologist. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The HTA supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.

Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education, which do not require full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology license. Support functions include direct patient care and administrative duties.

Major duties include, but is not limited to:

• Answering and screening calls from patients regarding audiology needs.
• Assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment.
• Assisting with walk-in appointments; processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology.
• Preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery.
• Adhering to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME).
• Maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items.
• Ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks.
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration.
• Maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies.
• Verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly.
• Processing ROES transactions (e.g. certifying hearing aids, entering orders and repairs).
• Preparing mailing and shipping requests for items including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items.
• Maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory; and assisting patients, visitors, and others requesting information.
• Educates patients, family and staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care, maintenance, use and operation, hearing conservation and realistic expectations for hearing aid use.
• Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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.
• Experience and Education.
  • Experience. Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR,
  • Education (Transcripts Required). Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR,
  • Experience/Education Combination (Transcripts Required). Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry.
• English Language Proficiency. HTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• 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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Health Technician (Audiology), GS-4

• Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Health Technician (Audiology), GS-5

• Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR,
• Education (Transcripts Required). Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck.
  • Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.
  • Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies.
  • Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
  • Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.
  • Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing.

Health Technician (Audiology), GS-6

• Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
  • Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families.
  • Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
  • Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid, hearing assistive technology and patient care, consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist.
  • Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures.
  • Ability to document and code patient procedures.

Preferred Experience: Some medical or audiology experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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, resume, 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.