Clarification from the agency

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Speech-:Language Pathologist duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice in a hospital setting.
• Uses a wide range of knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of speech-language pathology to a wide range of populations.
• Performs independent assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred for Speech Pathology Services without limitation as to difficulty or complexity.
• Develops plans for a course of therapy to resolve or minimize speech/language/cognitive-related communication conditions that present serious problems to social contacts, educational development or employment opportunities.
• Incorporates new clinical procedures enough to perform clinical services independently
• Conducts assessments, provides treatment interventions, and provides consultation to other health care professionals.
• Develops plans for course of therapy to resolve or minimize dysphagia-related conditions to ensure patient can tolerate safest, least restrictive diet.
• Incorporates new clinical procedures enough to perform clinical services independently.
• Has knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation.
• Consult with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
• Documents in the medical record evaluates, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, change in function status, and patient/family education.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 9:00-5:30pm
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:F07640 at GS-11, F07641 at GS-12
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Notifications:

• Current federal employees must submit copies of their most recent non-award SF50 (notice of personnel action). The SF50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one SF50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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 dentification 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

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. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.§ 7403(f).
• Education and Experience.
• A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience.

OR

• A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.

Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.

• Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2). Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed.
• The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities.
• An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

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

Speech-Language Pathologist GS-11:
Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
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 assessing and treating disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing.
• Knowledge of instrumentation and technologies for assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders.
• Ability to adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions, needs and goals.

Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-12:
In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. Incumbent is a speech-language pathologist and performs functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Incumbent functions at the full performance level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations.
• Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions.

Preferred Experience: The preferred candidate will demonstrate the ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to independently evaluate, diagnose, and provide evidence-based treatment for a broad range of speech-language pathology disorders. This includes the ability to develop and implement coherent treatment plans, integrate new clinical procedures and technologies into practice, and provide consultation to interdisciplinary healthcare team members.

Candidates should possess knowledge of instrumentation and contemporary practices utilized in speech-language pathology, including principles and techniques associated with augmentative and alternative communication, management of dysphagia and cognitive-communication disorders, and evaluation and treatment of voice disorders, including care of alaryngeal and tracheostomy or ventilator-dependent patients. Experience performing Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is preferred.

Preferred applicants will demonstrate clinical experience in dysphagia management consistent with current standards of care, including familiarity with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework. Additional desirable experience includes provision of services to geriatric populations with cognitive impairment, voice evaluation and therapy, augmentative communication intervention, and rehabilitation of individuals with mild traumatic brain injury and/or polytrauma. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to perform functions consistent with contemporary speech-language pathology practice within a complex healthcare environment.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 12.

Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent stooping, bending, walking, handling of wheelchairs and lifting in conjunction with treatment of patients. At times, there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing a patient from falling. Dexterity and skill in safe machinery techniques are required.

The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions, e.g., working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases. The therapist is required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection

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.

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

• Resume
• Transcript

Résumé Reminder:
Your résumé must include the following information each job listed:
1. Job title
2. Duties (be as detailed as possible)
3. Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
4. Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week).

Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your résumé. Be sure that your résumé clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

An incomplete application will receive a rating of IFFM (ineligible due to missing forms). Requests for reconsideration will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit a complete application package. We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software or fax transmissions

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.

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
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (for Eligibility and/or Time-in-Grade): If you are a current federal employee, you must attach your most recent, non-award SF-50. This SF-50 should not be more than a year old and must show your current position, grade and step. Award SF-50's typically do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted if they do not include Grade and Step.

In order to clearly demonstrate you possess the time-in-grade as required by the announcement, additional SF-50s should be attached which clearly demonstrate the minimum time-in-grade requirement.

Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:

• Within grade increases at the highest grade held.
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old.
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Next steps