Supervisory Audiologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System seeks a Supervisory Advanced Practice Audiologist to oversee audiology services across all clinical and patient-care areas, including University Drive, HJ Heinz Divisions, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

The role requires licensure in audiology, US citizenship, and eligibility for appointment under VA policies; graduate candidates may be considered with supervision until licensure is obtained.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required; non-citizens may be considered only as permitted by VA policy.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: AuD from a CAA-recognized program, or a doctoral degree in hearing science or related field from a USDE-recognized institution.
• Licensure: current, full, unrestricted audiology license in a US state/territory/DC; provisional arrangements possible for grads.
• Graduate audiologists may be hired under temporary appointment with supervision until licensure is obtained; may be terminated if credentials not obtained.
• Failure to obtain required licensure may result in termination.
• Grandfathering provision may apply in some cases.

Responsibilities

• Supervises audiology clinical and patient-care activities across all Audiology sections and VA Pittsburgh clinics.

Job description

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. This position serves as a Supervisory Advanced Practice Audiologist with duties and responsibilities carried out throughout all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology section of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service, including University Drive and HJ Heinz Divisions as well as VA Pittsburgh's Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

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: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: The educational requirements for this position included one of the following: 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.
• OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE.
• NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech programs in audiology.
• Licensure: This position requires Individuals to 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. Non‑licensed audiologists 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) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that these audiologists provide care only under the supervision of fully licensed audiologists. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS‑12 level without being fully licensed. The Under Secretary of Health, or designee, in VHA Central Office may waive the requirement for licensure under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 of a candidate who will be assigned to a research, academic or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. In such instances, HR office staff can only appoint these candidates in exceptional circumstances where their credentials demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. 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.
• Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.
• Loss of Credential. In collaboration with HR office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure, which may also result in separation from employment. f. HR office staff must appoint audiologists in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 16 of this part, who have or have ever had, their audiology licenses revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed in a probationary status. 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

GS -13 Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level, GS-12, which includes: practicing independently in the provision of audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors; serving as a consultant to other health care professionals and recognized as subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing; evaluating