This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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. Education. Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. "Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science. Licensure. For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. NOTE: All audiologists who perform compensation and pension (C&P) examinations are considered to be performing direct patient care duties, and must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology (38 CFR 4.85). The audiologist must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration. Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c). Failure to obtain licensure during appointment as a graduate audiologist is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS 12 level without being fully licensed. This may result in termination of employment. 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 audiologist who has, or has ever had, his/her audiology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/ registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision. All audiologists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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:.(1) Such employees, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or (changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees 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. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Education and Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11 Education and Experience. Completion of 1 year of professional experience as an audiologist equivalent to the next lower level; or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree; or doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a directly related field. For positions involved in research audiologist assignments involving no direct patient care, no additional education or professional experience is required beyond those identified at the GS-9 level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) identified for the assignment. Staff Audiologist. Staff audiologists at this grade level perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention. If unlicensed, the individual must function under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. The following KSAs are required: Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; Ability to communicate orally and in writing. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, acoustics, applied acoustics, communication, psychoacoustics, and auditory/vestibular pathophysiology 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 and Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals. GS-12 Licensure. The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Education and Experience. In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for the assignment. Staff Audiologist. Staff audiologists at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial [(less that 25% of the time). The following KSAs are required: Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice and Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice. Preferred Experience: Experience with adult population Experience with NOAH, ROES and CPRS documentation system Experience providing virtual care thru VVC and tele-health References: VA Handbook 5005/38 Part II Appendix G29 Audiologist Qualification Standard GS-665 Veterans Health Administration August 24, 2010. 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-09 to GS-12. Please see the Additional Information Section for the continued qualification information. ["Duties include, but are limited to:\nClinical Using a wide range of knowledge of and skill in applying, a wide range theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations Developing coherent treatment strategies Conducting assessments Providing treatment interventions Providing consultation to other health care professionals Performing compensation and pension examinations including detailed past, family, social, military, and occupational history, comprehensive evaluation of type and severity of hearing loss, tinnitus evaluation, special auditory tests, and opinions on the relationship between conditions and military service when requested Education Providing orientation/training of medical staff Assisting in orientation and training of new staff Assisting in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals Keeping current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs Administrative Participating in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs Maintaining patient records and other data required by the clinic, service and medical center Maintaining supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency May be requested to service on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network, or national committees Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISNEDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required\nThis is a Bargaining Unit position."]