Health Technician -Audiology

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology Section. 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. HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). Experience and Education Experience. Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR Education: Successful completion of two (2) academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry. OR Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. 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: Grade Determinations Experience: To meet the required specialized experience for this position, you must have completed one (1) year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-6, directly related to this position. This experience may include: Completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology; Repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory; Restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement; Ordering, registering, certifying, issuing, and tracking prosthetic devices. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must show that you meet the demonstrated KSAs for this position which include the following: Ability to mentor and train new HTAs. Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist, such as evoked potentials. Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7 Physical Requirements: Employees must bend/lift with good body mechanics, assist patients in wheelchairs by pushing/pulling, walk short distances multiple times during the day, portions of the day using a desk/computer with good body mechanics, sufficient vision/dexterity to perform Otoscopic exams and ear impressions. Audiology Health Technician duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Greeting and escorts patients; Triaging patients to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed; Setting up equipment and patients for clinical procedures; Instructing and counsels patients and family members on hearing loss or hearing aids; Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation; Completing non-diagnostic otoscopy; Performing invasive procedures such as ear impressions and cerumen management; Completing hearing aid troubleshooting and repairing consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan; Performing listening checks on hearing aids; Completing electroacoustic analysis of devices; Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology; Programing previously stored settings into hearing aids; Completing documentation for each episode of care and coding procedures; Completing electronic device ordering; verifies orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly; packs and mails hearing aids and accessories; Assisting in setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits; Completing electronic ordering and order verification; Scheduling appointments; Packing and mailing hearing aids and accessories; Responding to routine inquiries from patients; Assisting patients, visitors, and others requesting information; Managing infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic; Maintaining clean and disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the audiology clinic. Work Schedule:7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible:No Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Travel: Up to 25% Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.