Audiologist wRecruitment-Relocation Incentive

The Audiologist will promote design implement and coordinate wellness programs for prevention of hearing loss and protection of hearing function.

Duties include the following:

1) Identifying evaluating diagnosing managing and treating disorders of human hearing balance tinnitus and other disorders associated with the practice of audiology.

1. Performing otoscopic examination and external ear canal management for removal of cerumen.
2. Conducting and interpreting behavioral electroacoustic or electrophysiologic tests used to evaluate disorders associated with the practice of audiology.
3. Administering and interpreting electrophysiologic measurements of neural function including but not limited to sensory and motor evoked potentials tests of nerve conduction velocity and electromyography. These measurements are used in differential diagnosis pre- and postoperative evaluation of neural function and neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring of central nervous system spinal cord and cranial nerve function.
4. Evaluating and providing rehabilitation for central auditory processing disorders.
5. Determining the appropriateness of amplification devices and systems such as hearing aids sensory aids hearing assistive devices alerting and telecommunication systems and captioning devices; for Veterans with hearing impairment taking into consideration physical acoustic cosmetic situational and contextual factors.
6. Selecting evaluating fitting and programming amplification devices and systems customized to the individual needs of Veterans; verifying the effectiveness of such devices or systems; counseling and training Veterans in the use of amplification devices and systems and determining the benefit of amplification devices and systems.
7. Determining candidacy based on hearing and communication information for auditory implants (e.g. cochlear implants middle ear implantable hearing aids fully implantable hearing aids bone-anchored and implantable hearing aids and all other amplification/signal processing devices) and providing pre- and post-surgical assessment counseling and all aspects of audiologic treatment including auditory training rehabilitation implant programming and maintenance of implant hardware and software.
8. Providing auditory rehabilitation including speech reading (if qualified) communication management language development auditory skill development and counseling for psychosocial adjustment to hearing loss for persons with hearing loss and their families/caregivers.
9. Designing implementing supervising and coordinating industrial or occupational hearing conservation and identification programs including prevention identification and amelioration of noise-hazardous conditions identification of hearing loss recommendation and counseling on use of hearing protection employee education and the training and supervision of non-audiologists performing hearing screening in the industrial setting
10. Designing and conducting basic and applied audiology research subject to IRB review and approval to increase the knowledge base to develop new methods and programs to determine the efficacy of assessment and treatment paradigms; and to disseminate research findings to other professionals and to the public.
11. Consulting with individuals public and private agencies and governmental bodies or providing as an expert opinions regarding medico-legal interpretations of clinical findings.
12. Participating in the development of professional and technical standards.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:45pm


Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Please see the Benefits Section for Details.
EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay 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.
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)
Telework: Ad-Hoc only Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Staff Audiologist
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• 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.

HPTs 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.

All applicants pending the completion of certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected as a graduate audiologist.

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. (1) 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 .
• OR
• (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the : Effective January 1 2007 the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
• Licensure. Individuals must 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.(1) 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.
  • 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.

Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply:

• (1) Audiologists may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• (2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.(3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily 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 meet the basic requirements of the standard.(4) Audiologists 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.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 section D paragraph 5a this part.

Grade Requirements:
GS-11
Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 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 as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA.
• 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.
Experience. In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower grade level
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level the following KSAs are required:

• Skill in determining nature type and severity of hearing/communication /vestibular disorders.
• Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals.
• Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in providing care to adults 18 years of age and older; and doctoral level audiologist (either Au.D or PhD)
• Knowledge with contemporary audiology practice (Basic audiology being able to recognize psychogenic hearing loss/non-organic hearing loss etc.) as described in the American Academy of Audiology Scope of Practice.
• Experienced with administrating vestibular studies and tinnitius evaluation.
• Knowledge with VISTA CPRS and ROES 5.
• Experience submitting additional consults to other medical providers profession if diagnosis indicated according to type and configuration of hearing loss site of lesion in vestbular pathology.

Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0665 Audiologist Qualification Standard dated 3/18/2024.

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-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: There are no set physical requirements for this position light carrying and movement may be required to perform some functions.