Audiologist

Description:

This position is located in the Audiology Section of the Operative Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC). The Audiologist performs the full range of audiological activities for the care of inpatients and outpatients presenting with the most difficult and complex hearing disorders, including those patients whose communicative abilities are compounded by emotional and/or extreme physical symptoms, on an independent basis.

Requirements:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.
• Education. The individual must possess either of the below:
  • 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. You must submit a transcript showing you were awarded a doctoral degree that meets the stated requirements to receive credit. OR
  • 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. You must submit a transcript showing you were awarded a doctoral degree that meets the stated requirements to receive credit. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology.
  • 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. Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. You must submit your transcript showing you were awarded a doctoral degree and the documentation from the private organization that determined your foreign educational credentials were at least equivalent to a doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a directly related field that meets the above requirements to receive credit.
• 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. You must provide an unexpired copy of your licensure to receive credit. Note: All audiologists who perform compensation and pension examinations perform direct patient care duties and must possess a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology and must meet the experience requirements under Section 2. D. See 38 C.F.R. 4.85.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to meeting the above Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Grade Determination criteria below:

Audiologist, 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 level. To receive credit, you must list hours worked per week and job tasks that demonstrate work experience in your resume.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the GS-11 KSAs the candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in their resume:
  • 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.

Preferred Experience: At least three years of experience working as an Audiologist in an outpatient setting.

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 GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.