Audiologist

Description:

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at VA San Diego Healthcare System, which is comprised of four clinic locations. 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.

Requirements:

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.
• Education .
  • (1) 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
  • (2) 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
• 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
  • Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment.
• English Language Proficiency.
  • Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)

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 :
To qualify for the Audiologist GS-12, you must meet all of the Basic Qualifications listed above and all of the following:

• 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.
  • 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 ASHA.
  • Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals.

Preferred Experience: Consistent experience (minimum one case/month in last 2 years) with advanced vestibular, electrophysiology cases required. Hearing aid experience, to include fitting, follow-up and troubleshooting comprising minimum 8 hours/week over last two years required. Experience with cochlear implant, trainee precepting and tinnitus management preferred.

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.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.