Audiologist

SummaryCustomer Service: The incumbent meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.ResponsibilitiesDuties: General Description: This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&RS) Service at the Central Alabama Veteran's Heath Care System (CAVHCS). The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. The audiologist at this level conducts audiological assessment to determine a patient's need for amplification, predict effectiveness of amplification. Determine need for and type of aural rehabilitation and counseling of the hearing-impaired veteran and their family. Functions: ASSESSES THE DEGREE & NATURE OF HEARING LOSS: Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals. Administers the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who are normally unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. RECOMMENDS REMEDIAL MEASURES TO MITIGATE HEARING LOSS: The audiologist is responsible for direct services of a remedial and sometimes preventative nature. The services encompass the following: use of hearing aids; the selection of monaural, binaural or cross hearing aids of particular type; the issuance of ear defenders for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noisy environment; recommendations for special ear molds made necessary because of allergic reactions, severe hearing loss or other reasons; recommendations for procurement of special instruments such as desk amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems; routine hearing aid inspection and repair where indicated. Develops treatment plans for most difficult and complex cases. Recommends aural rehabilitation programs for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions. Designs training plans to assist patient and caregivers to in utilizing available hearing resources. Sometimes makes a recommendation for change of job in those cases where hearing loss is progressing due to high noise level exposure. · Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pmRequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/13/2019. Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) b. Education. Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. ["Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).] NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA [accredits] only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science. . 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). (1) The audiologist must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration. [(2) Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c). Failure to obtain licensure during appointment as a graduate audiologist is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. This may result in termination of employment. [(3)] 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. GRADE REQUIREMENTS [a.] Creditable Experience [(1)] Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Audiology Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with contemporary professional audiology practice. This knowledge may be evidenced by one or more of the following: GS-12 (a) Licensure. [T]he incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. [ ]. (b) Education and Experience. In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. For positions involved in research audiology assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [KSAs identified for the assignment.] (c) Assignments. Audiologists at this grade level are independent licensed practitioners and are considered to be at the full performance level. Employees may be appointed to one of the following assignments: Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies; Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently; Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals; Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; and Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice. References: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12. Physical Requirements: this work is primarily sedentary, but may include periods of prolonged walking and some travel to perform site visits. Extensive reading may be requiredEducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Additional InformationThis job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.