Audiologist

Full Job Description

This position is in the Audiology Service at Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Cambridge, Maryland.

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.

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: 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 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.

Exception for Non-Licensed Audiologist.

(a) 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). (b) Non-Licensed individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a fully licensed audiologists at or above the full performance level.

(c) 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.

(d) Temporary appointments of non-Licensed audiologists may not be extended beyond two years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.

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.

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).

Grandfathering Provision: 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 re-entry 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: 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.

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.

Preferred Experience: Audiologist with 3 or more years of experience and some cochlear implant experience, although the latter is not absolutely required.

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.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS11 to GS12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Major Duties:

Major Duties: 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; Develops coherent treatment strategies; Knowledge of clinical services and the ability to perform them independently; Conducts assessments, provides treatment interventions; Provides consultation to other health care professionals; Has knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology practice.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 512-25578-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized