Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Salisbury, NC seeks a Health Technician (HIS) to support Audiology services at the W.G. Hefner VAMC. Responsibilities include hearing aid troubleshooting, patient education, and coordination of audiology procedures under supervision of a licensed audiologist.

Requirements include apprenticeship or related coursework, licensure/registration, and NBC-HIS board certification. Opportunities for growth within the Allied Health team are available.

Qualifications

• Citizenship as required by VA policies.
• Completion of apprenticeship for HIS or two years of healthcare coursework as described.
• Full, current license/registration to practice as an HIS where applicable.
• Board certification from NBC-HIS or eligibility for temporary appointment with pursuit of certification.
• Non-boarded applicants may work under supervision until certification is obtained.

Responsibilities

• Perform hearing aid troubleshooting and basic repairs.
• Check hearing aids and assistive devices for proper operation.
• Prepare earmold impressions and assist in ordering earmolds.
• Educate patients and caregivers on hearing loss, devices, and usage.
• Assist in setup of telehealth visits and audiology procedures.
• Maintain inventory and equipment, ensuring stock levels and proper storage.
• Process communications from Veterans and coordinate follow-up per audiologist plan.
• Schedule and support patient care activities within the audiology service.

Skills

Anatomy knowledge

Infection control

Computer skills

Communication

Instruction adherence

Inventory management

Education

Two academic years above high school with healthcare coursework

Apprenticeship program for Hearing Instrument Specialists

NBC-HIS board certification

Tools

Hearing aid software

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Service at the W.G. "Bill" Hefner VAMC in Salisbury - NC. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology. This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Service at the W.G. "Bill" Hefner VAMC in Salisbury - NC. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology. This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

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
• 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
• 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
• Lost of Licensure or Registration: A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• Board Certification: Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)
• Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS) Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C.
• 7405(c)(2)(B)
• Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologist
• Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician (HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification: In all cases - Health Technician (HIS) must actively pursue meeting requirements for board certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the Health Technician (HIS) with the written requirements for board certification - including the time (i.e. - two years) by which the board certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain board certification during the two-year period may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Certification: A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• 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
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (HIS) candidates must proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• 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: Health Technician (HIS) - GS-05: Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve in a Health Technician (HIS) entry level developmental position and work under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist
• Health Technician (HIS) - GS-06: Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-5)
• 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
• Assignment: Employees at this level are at the full performance level and work under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist
• 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices (troubleshoots performance)
• Fabricating earmold impressions with proper (non-diagnostic) otoscopy
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fitting and modifying earmolds - if necessary
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan - including but not limited to - realistic expectations - communication strategies - and/or aural rehabilitation
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures including but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment
• Assisting patients with hearing aid connectivity including but not limited to downloading applications (or apps) - pairing devices in the app - Bluetooth pairing - and pairing hearing aid accessories
• The Health Technician (HIS) completes documentation per medical center policy for timeliness for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist
• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• Ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory
• 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 - Denver Logistics Center (DLC)
• Maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies
• The Health Technician (HIS) receives and completes incoming communications from Veterans (electronic and telephone) - and facilitates follow-up based on audiologist's treatment plan to include ordering supplies through DLC
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized This announcement will remain open - unless a selection is made before the closing date
• Once a selection has been made - this posting will be terminated
• Department of Veteran Affairs employees will be given first consideration during selections process and are required to submit a most recent (non award) SF 50.