Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until February 28 2026 or until the position is filled. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 12/29/2025 with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks thereafter.

As members of the audiology service and hearing health care team the Health Technician (HIS) possesses knowledge ofbasic ear anatomy and a broad knowledge of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology. The Health Technician (HIS) possesses the skills necessary to assist patients with concerns related to their hearing aids and/or hearing assistive technology consistent with the treatment plan of the audiologist. This work may include the provision of a wide array of clinical rehabilitation services to support Veterans with disabilities reintegrate into community employment and independent living.

Direct patient care duties may include but not limited to the following:

• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair;
• Performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices (troubleshoots performance);
• Fabricating earmold impressions with proper (non-diagnostic) otoscopy;
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fitting and modifying earmolds if necessary;
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers consistent with the audiologists treatment plan including but not limited to realistic expectations communication strategies and/or aural rehabilitation;
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures including but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment;
• Assisting patients with hearing aid connectivity including but not limited to downloading applications (or apps) pairing devices in the app Bluetooth pairing and pairing hearing aid accessories.
• Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions.
• Maintaining comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items;
• Ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks;
• Prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment regarding date of expiration and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory.
• Assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency following the audiologists plan of care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 70793-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Duty Location: will be discussed upon selection
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth adoption or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment full time employees with a total family income below $144000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 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:

• United States 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 VA Policy.
• Experience and Education:
  • Experience. Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists; OR
  • Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science human anatomy and physiology hearing instrument science gerontology psychology or other general healthcare areas.

NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements.

• Licensure or Registration: Individuals must hold a full current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state territory commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
  • Loss of Licensure or Registration. A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation which may also result in termination of employment.
• Board Certification: Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS).
  • Loss of Certification. A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation which may also result in termination of employment.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: Health Technician Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS) GS-06

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade of GS-05.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
• Knowledge of hearing aids hearing assistive technology hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
• Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices.
• Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection).
• Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations.
• Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist.
• Ability to prepare patient equipment and/or environment for audiology procedures.
• Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests.

Assignment. Employees at this level are at the full performance level and work under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist. Assignments associated with this level include but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices (troubleshoots performance); registering certifying and tracking prosthetic devices (hearing aids hearing aid accessories and assistive devices); and assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures including but not limited to daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment. The Health Technician (HIS) fabricates earmold impressions with proper otoscopy orders earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fits and modifies earmolds if necessary. The Health Technician (HIS) provides patient care in hearing aid repair appointments consistent with the audiologists treatment plan and provides counselling including but not limited to realistic expectations communication strategies and/or aural rehabilitation. The Health Technician (HIS) maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems to include: monitoring stock of RME and consumable items; ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks; prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration; and may maintain a loaner hearing aid inventory. The Health Technician (HIS) assists patients with hearing aid connectivity including but not limited to downloading applications (or apps) pairing devices in the app Bluetooth pairing and pairing hearing aid accessories. The Health Technician (HIS) assists patients through triaging phone calls and audiology requests with regards to priority and urgency following the audiologists plan of care.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected is GS-06.

Preferred Experience: 2-5 years experience working as a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) with an active HIS license.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers and both hands required; Near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Mental and Emotional Stability; works outside and inside; works closely with others; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted).