Audiologist

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.

01Basic 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).

02Education

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. 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. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and 3 Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology.

03Licensure

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. The Under Secretary of Health, or designee, may appoint a candidate without a license 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.

Exception for Non-Licensed Audiologist Non-Licensed applicants 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). Non-Licensed individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a fully licensed audiologist at or above the full performance level.

Non-Licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-12 grade level until licensure is obtained. Temporary appointments of non-Licensed audiologists may not be extended beyond two years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. 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.

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).

04Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified. Audiologist, GS-11 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: Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders.

Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA. 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 Audiologist, GS-12 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: Skill in determining nature, type, and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders. Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals.

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 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 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 VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

General description of assigned duties includes, but is not limited to: GS-11: The incumbent functions as an audiologist under the supervision of an assigned licensed and credentialed audiologist (GS 12 or GS 13) as determined by the Chief of the Audiology/Speech Pathology Service. Individual and program goals and objectives will be provided to the incumbent as a part of the performance review process.

The incumbent is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments independently, resolving conflicts as they arise, coordinating work with others, and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. The incumbent keeps the assigned supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial matters. GS-12: The incumbent is under the general supervision of the Chief or Assistant Chief (as assigned) of Audiology & Speech Pathology Service. Program goals and objectives are provided.

As an independent practitioner, the employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment independently, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, coordinating the work with others as necessary, and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives. In some assignments, the employee also determines the approach to be taken and the methodology to be used. The employee keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial matters.

Completed work is reviewed only in meeting technical requirements or expected results. Duties listed are at the Full performance level GS-12, include, but are not limited to: Plans, conducts, monitors, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary, evidence-based, and patient-centered audiology practice.

Clinical duties and responsibilities include direct patient care involving a full range of audiology and balance evaluation and treatment services, including conducting medical-legal Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations, the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their families.

Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language, and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity. Administers the full range of tests (e.g., auditory evoked potential testing, central auditory processing testing, testing of vestibular nerve function, etc.) and evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reactions to diagnostics.

Responsible for planning, delivering, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions, including, but not limited to, the selection and fitting of all types of hearing aids; programming of digital hearing aids; issuance of hearing protection devices for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noisy environment; selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems' and inspection, modification, and repair of amplification devices and ear molds.

Plans, conducts, and coordinates auditory (aural) rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients; designs individual and group (as needed) patient-centered treatment plans to assist patients and caregivers to maximize and restore, to the greatest extent possible, physical and social functioning; and designs, monitors, and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure.

Responsible for supervising, evaluating, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in audiology and maintaining a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities. He/she may also provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information related to audiology. Complete all documentation in accordance with facility policy.

Remain current with new developments in audiology and will maintain professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences and by communicating with other professionals in the profession and related professions.

This position requires communication, and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and interdisciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate; review policies and procedures; and attend in-service training. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 10742F / 10741F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized