Health Technician (Audiology)

Summary

The Health Technician (Audiology) (HTA) provides assistance to the Audiologist in meeting the clinical needs of the patient population served in the Audiology Department of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center. Duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education. Duties and responsibilities may include, but not limited to: Greeting and escorting patients; Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids; Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation; Taking earmold impressions; Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair; Performing listening checks on hearing aids and electroacoustic analysis of devices; Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology and programming previously stored settings into hearing aids; Documentation of interactions into medical records using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions; Tracking hearing aid inventory and electronic ordering; Scheduling appointments; Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories; Assisting patients, visitors, and others requesting information; Management of infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic; Maintenance of clean, disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the audiology clinic. Work Schedule: Full-Time ; MON-FRI; 06:30am-3:00pm Compressed/Flexible: N/A Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:10053F,10592F,10435F Requirements

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. 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: 1. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 2. Experience and Education. (a) Experience. Six (6) months of creditable experience in a health care industry comparable to the next lower level (GS-3) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the Health Technician Audiology -OR- (b) Education. Successful completion of two 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 health care industry. Transcripts Required. -OR- (c) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education which are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.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. Transcripts Required. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met for grade determination: GS-04: Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-05:(1) Experience. One year 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 (2) Education. Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation. AND (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: KSA 1 - Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck. KSA 2 - Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing. KSA 3 - Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies. KSA 4 - Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines. KSA 5 - Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories. KSA 6 - Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing. GS-06: (1) Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled. AND (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: KSA 1 - Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy. KSA 2 - Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families. KSA 3 - Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software. KSA 4 - Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid, hearing assistive technology and patient care, consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist. KSA 5 - Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures. KSA 6 - Ability to document and code patient procedures. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience often includes safe and effective cerumen removal, Hands on work with hearing aid fittings and adjustments and familiarity with clinical documentation, scheduling and patient education. Strong communication skills and prior work in hospital, clinic, or VA settings further demonstrate readiness for patient centered fast paced audiology environment Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.VA Handbook 5005/143; PART II; APPENDIX G70. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS04 to GS06. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.