Audiologist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Salem, VA is seeking an Audiologist to provide comprehensive audiologic care within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. Activities include diagnostic hearing and balance assessments, hearing aid services, and C&P examinations.

The role requires Doctor of Audiology (AUD) or equivalent, licensure in good standing, and ability to prepare expert opinions for disability determinations.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an accredited program (ACAE/CAA).
• LICENSURE: U.S. state licensure or eligibility for licensure; temporary appointment if not licensed.
• Knowledge of assessment and treatment of hearing, balance, and vestibular disorders.

Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostic hearing, balance, and auditory evoked potential evaluations.
• Conduct hearing aid assessment, fitting, programming, and follow-up services.
• Provide rehabilitation for patients with hearing and balance disorders.
• Prepare expert medical opinions for disability determinations (C&P).
• Support patients with C&P examinations and rehabilitative services.

Skills

Audiology knowledge

Clinical judgment

Interpersonal skills

Education

Doctor of Audiology (AUD)

ACAE/CAA accreditation

Foreign education evaluation

Job description

Audiologist, serves within the Salem VAMC Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, providing comprehensive audiologic care. Performs diagnostic hearing, balance, and auditory evoked potential evaluations; hearing aid assessment, fitting, programming, and follow-up services; and Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations. Prepares expert medical opinions for disability determinations and provides rehabilitative services for patients with hearing and balance disorders. 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 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education. Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association (ASHA).
• 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. 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. Must 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.
• 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: 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). 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.

Grade Determinations

GS 11 Audiologist

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
   • Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders.
   • Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA.
   • Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals.
3. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in audiologist entry‑level developmental positions. Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention, exercise clinical judgment, adapt clinical procedures and techniques, and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care

GS-12 Audiologist (Full Performance Level)

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, GS‑11.
2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required:
   • 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

Audiology licensure within the United States or United States territory and hearing aid experience.

Reference

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

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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.