Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, NC seeks a Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) to support Audiology services in all clinical areas. This OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT remains open until vacancies are filled.

Eligible candidates must meet basic requirements, including citizenship, English proficiency, and licensure. The GS-05/06 duties include assisting audiologists, performing non-diagnostic otoscopy, and patient education, with opportunities for career progression.

Qualifications

• Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists or equivalent.
• Two academic years above high school with related coursework in hearing science or healthcare.
• Must hold NBC-HIS certification and active state license/registration.

Responsibilities

• Perform non-diagnostic otoscopy and refer abnormalities.
• Assist audiologist in hearing aid repairs and adjustments.
• Prepare devices for delivery and check device function post-repair.
• Document procedures and educate patients on device use and care.
• Provide triage for audiology requests and manage patient flow.

Skills

Anatomy knowledge

Infection control

Communication skills

Instruction and training

Troubleshooting hearing devices

Triage calls

Education

Apprenticeship (Hearing Aid Specialist)

Two years post-secondary coursework (hearing science, anatomy, physiology)

Tools

Hearing aid software

Manufacturer tools

Job description

This position is located in the Audiology Service at the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, NC. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until January 15, 2027. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

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. Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Experience and Education:
  • Experience. Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists; OR,
  • Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science, human anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology or other general healthcare areas.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements.

• Licensure or Registration. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
• Board Certification. Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS).

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

In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 3, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Health Technician (HIS), GS-05.

(1) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck.
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
• Skill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email, creating spreadsheets and word processing.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.

Health Technician (HIS), GS-06.

(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-5). To be creditable, this experience must be equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-5, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) responsibilities. Experience at this level includes but is not limited to: performing non-diagnostic otoscopy including proper bracing techniques and making appropriate referrals for abnormalities and cerumen management; rechecking air-conduction pure tone threshold testing to assist the audiologist in modifying the treatment plan during hearing aid repair appointments; providing patient care in hearing aid repair appointments, consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan; completing visual and auditory checks with listening stethoscope of hearing aids prior to and following repair of device (troubleshoots performance); processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology; preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery; receiving devices and restoring settings of hearing aid/hearing assistive technology after repair or replacement from manufacturer, such as Denver Logistics Center (DLC); and maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
• Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
• Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices.
• Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use, to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection).
• Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations.
• Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids, hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist.
• Ability to prepare patient, equipment, and/or environment for audiology procedures.
• Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests.

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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.