Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. This position is open to current, permanent employees of Harry S. Truman VAMC and current, permanent employees of Veterans Health Administration.

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This position will be located in St. James MO, until our new facility in Rolla, MO begins seeing patients in early 2027 and is under the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service of the PM&R Service Line at Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital. It will be expected to report to the facility in Columbia, MO for employee orientation and training. The duties and responsibilities are carried out primarily in the CBOC Clinics however may be throughout the medical center including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service. The duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Applies advanced theories, current literature, and techniques to special patient populations, provide professional advice and counseling, and provide consultation in specialized areas of audiology
• Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations
• Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations
• Evaluates patients to determine nature, type, and severity of hearing and balance disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners
• Performs compensation and pension examinations including detailed past, family, social, military, and occupational history, comprehensive evaluation of type and severity of hearing loss, tinnitus evaluation, special auditory and vestibular testing, and opinions on the relationship between conditions and military service when requested
• Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Incumbent has advanced skill required for providing recommendations for evaluation and treatment of patients with vestibular pathology and all other audiologic related services
• Documents in the medical record: evaluates, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, changes in functional status, and patient/family education
• Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals
• Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs
• Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center
• May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial
• Articulates and communicates goals, objectives, and focused initiatives to an inter-disciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subunit; as well as guiding the team members on work methods, practices, and procedures
• Monitors and evaluates the work of an inter-disciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subunit; and makes adjustments in procedures or practices to accomplish program goals
• Performs other duties as assigned

Because the facility in Rolla is not open yet, training and reporting location will be discussed during the interview process. Incumbent will be expected to report to the facility in St. James, MO until the facility in Rolla, MO opens.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000 Audiologist GS-0665-11/12
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.
• 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.
• Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.
• 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:

• United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education. 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. You must submit a copy of your transcript showing you were awarded a doctoral degree or on track to completing it by time of hire that meets the stated requirements to receive credit. OR 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. You must submit a copy of your transcript showing you were awarded a doctoral degree or on track to completing it by time of hire that meets the stated requirements to receive credit. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology. ORForeign 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.
• 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. You must provide an unexpired copy of your licensure to receive credit. Exception: 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. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.

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:
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

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 level
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the GS-11 KSAs the candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in their resume:

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.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VHA Directive 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.

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.