This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. The audiologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders.
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: Be a citizen of the United States. 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 Requirement: 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). 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 Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology. 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 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. 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). Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure, where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis 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 fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: This grandfathering provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements. Grade Determinations: GS12 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. Preferred Experience: 5 years experience. Participating in hearing aid fittings, exams, servicing hearing aids and student supervision. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods of time while repeating same movements or walking. Bending and twisting body to lift, push, and pull light weight objects. Lift, carry, or move objects weighing up to 15 pounds. Stand for as much as 85% of work time. Reach above shoulder level in order to perform work. Move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of equipment. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.
The Audiologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders. The incumbent at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations. The incumbent is an independent licensed practitioner and is considered to be at the full performance level. Major duties include but not limited to: Direct patient care involving a full range of audiology including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their family, tinnitus evaluation and/or treatment, and vestibular/balance evaluation and treatment services. 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 including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction 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 Responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation. The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration instruments. Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders. All other duties assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:45am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60187-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required