Clarification from the agency

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 position health technician (Audiology) is located in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Service (ASPS), Audiology Section, in the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology. The incumbent is a staff health technician (Audiology) under the supervision of a GS-12 audiologist or above.

The higher-level duties associated with this advanced-level position may include, but are not limited to:

1. 1. Mentors and trains new health technicians in audiology.
   2. May develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology.
   3. Functions as a point-of-contact for MSAs from the call center or from other audiology clinics for questions related to audiology and teleaudiology sites and appointments.
   4. Serving as a telepresenter, within scope of practice, during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (WC) encounters including tasks such as establishing and maintaining video conferencing connections making introductions between patient site and provider site, following instructions of a clinician to facilitate an effective clinical encounter. (Requires telehealth certification)
   5. Serving as an imager and manager of clinical data for store and forward telehealth (SFT) clinical encounters including tasks such as capturing images, collecting data and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines. (Requires telehealth certification)
   6. Taking measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for the cleaning of clinical equipment and the care environment while following all patient safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures.
   7. Scheduling teleaudiology appointments as needed.
      1. Only applicable if working at a teleaudiology-only site (requires scheduling keys)

Audiology specific duties include, but are not limited to:
Performs diagnostic, treatment, and aftercare procedures:

1. Conducts tympanometric screening, and otoacoustic emission tests (without interpretation).
2. Conducts pure tone air conduction threshold testing for established patients and employees (without interpretation).
3. Completes adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care.
4. Prepares patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials.

Administrative duties include, but are not limited to:

1. May provide employee hearing conservation education and training, basic counseling of employees concerning test results and criteria for employee referral.
2. Collaborates with the Hearing Conservation Program Manager and manages records associated with eh hearing conservation program.

Full performance level assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to:

Audiology specific duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Greeting and escorting patients
2. Instructing patient on hearing loss or hearing aids on an individual basis or in a group setting
3. Completing non-diagnostic otoscopy
4. Cerumen management. In accordance with clinic protocols, performs cerumen management. This includes evaluating the need for cerumen management, assessing contraindications, and selecting an appropriate method (mechanical, suction, irrigation). The health technician performs cerumen management, recognizes potential complications, and initiates referrals to the Audiology staff, primary care, or ENT as necessary. Follows infection control guidelines.
5. Taking earmold impressions
6. Troubleshooting and repairing hearing aids
7. Electro-acoustic analysis of hearing aids
8. Use of in-situ, real-ear hardware/software for fitting of new hearing aids or problem solving for existing hearing aids during synchronous telehealth care by audiologist
9. Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and care partners
10. Performing listening checks on hearing aids
11. Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
12. Documenting patient care activities in an accurate and timely manner in the electronic medical record and in ROES
    1. Preparing and mailing IOHI surveys and entering patient data in ROES

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09786F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 identification 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

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:

1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

2. 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).

3. 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: 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: 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.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

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:

HTA, GS-08

(1) 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.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Ability to conduct employee hearing conservation education and training.
• (b) Knowledge of the hearing conservation program requirements to manage records and files.
• (c) Ability to perform pure tone air conduction testing.
• (d) Ability to provide audiologic technical support to the employee hearing conservation program.
• (e) Ability to identify a threshold shift and make appropriate referrals for further testing when indicated.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The health technician works under the direction of a licensed audiologist. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care, preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials and collaborating with team to develop training programs for patients and staff. The health technician may perform pure tone air conduction threshold testing for established patients and employees, without interpretation. The health technician may provide employee hearing conservation education and training, basic counselling of employees concerning test results and criteria for employee referral. This health technician collaborates with the Hearing Conservation Program Manager and manages records associated with the hearing conservation program.

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-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

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.