Health Technician (Audiology)

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.

The incumbent is under the supervision of the Chief of Audiology & Speech Pathology. Program goals and objectives are provided. The employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment resolving most of the conflicts that arise coordinating the work with others as necessary and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives. The employee is responsible for carrying out the assignment under the direct supervision of the supervising audiologist. Completed work is reviewed by the supervising audiologist.

• Primary responsibility is for patient care supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures patient charting and patient education which do not require a full professional audiology education or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure.
• Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties.
• Direct patient care duties may include but not limited to the following: Greeting and escorting patients;
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting;
• Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation; Non-diagnostic otoscopy; Cerumen management;
• Taking earmold impressions; Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair; Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers;
• Performing listening checks on hearing aids; Electroacoustic analysis of devices;
• Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology;
• Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids;
• Activating remote controls.
• The incumbent is responsible for 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 via ROES.

• 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 evaluation.
• 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.

• 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.

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.
• 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 academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelors 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.
• Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification identified for the HTA GS-08 position must be removed from the assignment which may also result in termination of employment.
• 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.
• 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. 7402 (d).

• Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck.
• Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies.
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.
• Skill in using basic computer software such as email spreadsheet and word processing.

• Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
• Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families.
• Knowledge of hearing aids hearing assistive technology hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
• 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.
• Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures.
• Ability to document and code patient procedures.