Summary

This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Section of the Columbia VA Health Care System - at the main medical facility WJB Dorn Hospital in Columbia - SC or at any of its' Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Section of the Columbia VA Health Care System - at the main medical facility WJB Dorn Hospital in Columbia - SC or at any of its' Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

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
• Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education (1) 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 (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE
• 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 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: Audiologist - GS-11
• (1) Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders
• (b) Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA
• (c) 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)
• In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level - the following KSAs are required: (a) Skill in determining nature - type - and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• (b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• (c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals
• (d) 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: See VA Handbook 5019.

Duties

• An Audiologist in this full performance level is licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate
• Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders - conduct audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments - treat auditory disorders through various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders Audiologists diagnose audiologic disorders - conduct audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments - treat auditory disorders through various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders
• Duties included but not limited: Assess the nature - type - and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• 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 auditory evoked potentials - videonystagmography - tinnitus - and balance assessment
• evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss
• administers compensation and pension evaluations and provides an expert opinion regarding etiology of auditory dysfunctions as needed
• Counsels patients family and other health care providers on hearing loss - hearing loss management and provides patient educational resources
• Independently applies professional contemporary audiology treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Applies clinical skills in such areas as hearing conservation - electrophysiological assessment and interpretation - central auditory function assessment and treatment - counseling for coping with tinnitus - and analysis and fitting of advanced amplification technology Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 55052F and 55055F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized