Speech-Language Pathologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in Salem, VA to provide diagnostic and treatment services for adult patients, following evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities include administering swallowing evaluations, assessing outcomes, and adapting procedures to individual patient needs. Requires a master's or doctoral degree in SLP and active licensure.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a related field and one year of creditable experience, or a doctoral degree in the field.
• Licensure: full, current, and unrestricted license in a state, territory, commonwealth, or D.C. per VA requirements.
• Demonstrated KSAs: diagnostic and treatment skills, swallowing evaluations, and outcome assessment.

Responsibilities

• Apply principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment for adults with speech-language pathology needs.
• Administer and interpret instrumental swallowing evaluations.
• Assess clinical outcomes and adapt procedures to patient conditions.

Skills

Speech-language pathology diagnostics

Instrumental swallowing evaluations

Clinical outcomes assessment

Education

Master's degree in SLP or related field

Doctoral degree in SLP or related field

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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: Candidates must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English at a level necessary to successfully perform the duties of this position.
• Education and Experience: (1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience.OR, (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the candidate must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2). Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities. An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

Grandfathering Provision

All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: SLPs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. If SLPs who are retained under this provision leave the occupation, they will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. SLPs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment. SLPs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations.
• Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions

Preferred Experience

• Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Reference

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

Physical Requirements

Light lifting under 15 pounds, light carrying under 15 pounds, both hands required, hearing (aid permitted), emotional and m