Summary

This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 12/05/2024. Additional applications will be referred as needed. This position is located in the Audiology Service at the Lubbock Community Based Outpatient Clinic as part of the Amarillo VA Health Care System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service. Incumbent is a staff audiologist.

Qualifications

VA Health Profession Trainees (HPTs) 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. US Citizens who are pending completion of certification/licensure requirements may be considered for temporary appointment at the GS-11 level as a Graduate Audiologist.

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
• Education
• (1) Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs
• HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org
• OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE
• NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology
• 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
• 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
• (1) 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
• Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed
• 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
• Loss of Credential
• In collaboration with HR office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure, which may also result in separation from employment
• Grandfathering Provision
• All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Audiologists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• (3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily 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 meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Audiologists 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency
• Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: Tinnitus Management Experience Balance Disorder Evaluation Experience Auditory Processing Disorder Evaluation Experience Advanced skill to perform and interpret diagnostic testing related to balance disorders
• Advanced skill in medico-legal evaluations to include compensation and pension evaluations
• At least 2 years of employment as a professional audiologist engaged in the practice of Audiology as defined by the appropriate licensing board
• Experience with TeleAudiology
• Carries current ASHA certification and has experience with supervision of students
• Grade Requirements: 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
• GS-12 Licensure
• The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/38 Part II Appendix G29 Audiologist Qualification Standard GS-665 Veterans Health Administration September 22, 2022
• 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: There are no set physical requirements for this position light carrying and movement may be required to perform some functions.

Duties

• The staff audiologist conducts a full range of audiological evaluations to determine the type and degree of hearing loss, determines patients' need for amplification, predicts and measures the effectiveness of amplification, and determines need for and type of rehabilitation and counseling of veterans with hearing loss and their families
• The staff audiologist conducts and interprets behavioral, electroacoustic, or electrophysiological methods used to assess hearing, tinnitus, balance and neural system function
• Duties: Conduct, plan, and coordinate all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice
• Perform clinical duties and responsibilities to include direct patient care involving a full range of audiology and treatment services
• This will include selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, selectin and fitting of hearing protection and custom ear protection devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, auditory brainstem response (ABR), otoacoustic emissions, balance evaluation, and counselling of hearing impaired veterans and family members/caretakers
• Identify and evaluate individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity
• Administer full range of tests and evaluate the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostic techni 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
• Duties will include, but not limited to, selection and fitting of all types of hearing aids, programming of digital hearing aids, selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, and radio or TV devices for special communication problems
• Inspect, modify, and repair amplification devices, ear molds, and assistive devices
• Plan, conduct, and coordinate auditory (aural) rehabilitation and tinnitus programs for patients
• design patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning
• Complete all documentation in accordance with local facility and national policies
• Communicate effectively to include participation in regular staff meetings, inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate, review policies and procedures, and attend in-service trainings as directed by supervisory staff
• Remain current in audiological new developments, 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
• Maintain proper maintenance and calibration of specialized electroacoustic instrumentation
• Learn and maintain current knowledge related to the technical aspects of clinical instruments as well as calibration instruments
• Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs
• Provides patient and family education including informed consent
• Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center
• Maintains, supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency
• Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights
• May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Recruitment Incentives
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time, part time[,] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service Relocation Incentives
• Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive, it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required