Audiologist

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens and current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• Functions as a staff audiologist under the supervision of a higher-grade audiologist or speech-language pathologist.
• Provides comprehensive audiological services to patients at the primary VA hospital and regional sites.
• Applies principles and techniques of audiology, including anatomy, physiology, acoustics, psychoacoustics, communication, and auditory/vestibular pathophysiology.
• Assesses and treats auditory and balance disorders using a full range of behavioral and physiologic diagnostic tests, including ENG, auditory brainstem responses, otoacoustic emissions, acoustic immittance, SISI, Tone Decay, and Stenger tests.
• Identifies and evaluates individuals with disorders affecting speech, language, and perception of acoustic signals.
• Conducts differential diagnosis for varied conditions, such as otosclerosis, otitis media, cholesteatoma, tumors, Meniere's syndrome, cerebellopontine angle tumors, and other conductive, cochlear, and retrocochlear lesions.
• Evaluates ear canal functional status, provides cerumen management, and assesses hearing for patients unable to respond to standard audiometric procedures.
• Conducts social efficiency examinations for hearing impairment assessments used in adjudication and medico-legal purposes.
• Counsels veterans, families, and caregivers regarding the nature and impact of hearing impairment.
• Recommends and provides remedial and preventive services, including selection, fitting, and instruction on the use of hearing aids (including implantables and assistive listening devices), FM/Bluetooth systems, and other specialized equipment.
• Performs routine inspection and repair of personal amplification systems and assistive listening devices, as needed.
• Issues ear defenders for acoustic trauma prevention and recommends vocational adjustments in cases of progressive hearing loss due to noise exposure.
• Designs and implements aural rehabilitation and training programs to maximize use of amplification, residual hearing, and development of alternative communication strategies such as speech-reading.
• Adapts clinical procedures for unique, age-specific patient needs, exercising appropriate clinical judgment.
• Develops individualized training plans for patients and caregivers.

Education

• Assists in the orientation and training of new staff, medical personnel, students, trainees, and fellows, providing supervision and feedback.
• Participates in continuing education through courses, journals, textbooks, and in-service programs to maintain current knowledge and competency.
• Provides patient and family education, including informed consent, and ensures compliance with HIPAA and patient rights regulations.

Administrative

• Participates in development and evaluation of clinical guidelines, protocols, and new or existing programs.
• Maintains accurate patient records and required clinical data.
• Maintains clinical areas, supplies, and equipment for safety and efficiency.
• May serve on service-level, medical center, network, or national committees and task forces.

Technical and Research

• Maintains and calibrates specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation used in auditory assessments.
• Assists with clinical research activities, including data collection and support for research design.

Professional Conduct and Privacy

• Interacts professionally with patients, families, and other healthcare practitioners; consults with physicians as appropriate.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and collaborative care planning.
• Documents evaluations, diagnoses, treatment plans, patient/family education, and outcomes in the medical record.
• Accesses sensitive data appropriately, ensuring compliance with federal, VA, and Privacy Act regulations.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 635-53777A, 635-53778A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for a Highly Qualified Candidate.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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).

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.

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.

• 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 fully licensed audiologists 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.

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 and 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). GRADE 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

(1) Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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

(1) 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.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• 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.

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:

The physical demands of the work include light lifting and carrying under 15 pounds; reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; walking; standing; and hearing aid permitted. The position requires mental and emotional stability and involves working around machinery.

Prolonged sitting and/or standing (6-8 hours) may be required, along with the ability to perform rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Some stressful situations may occur when communicating with patients and their families who may have multiple physical, mental, and/or psychosocial needs.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
2. All other applicants based on Veterans' Preference.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Full resume/CV without page limitation
• Resume
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

Your resume/CV must include the following information for each job listed (a determination may not be able to be made if these items are missing):

• Job title and Duties
• Month & year, start/end dated (e.g. June 2020 to April 2021)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Series and Grade, if applicable

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Full resume/CV without page limitation
• Other (2)
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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