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.
English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Education: 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
Education: Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE.
Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
NOTE: All audiologists who perform compensation and pension (C&P) examinations are considered to be performing direct patient care duties, and must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology (38 CFR 4.85). The audiologist must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified.
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 basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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.
References: Audiologist Qualification Standard - March 18, 2024 (formerly VA Handbook 5005/152 Part II Appendix G29).
Physical Requirements: This work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of items. Physical effort and ability to perform repetitive motions with arms and requires good balance to prevent falling when assisting patients with an activity. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.