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: 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 [Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology
• 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
• 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining grades
• GS-11 Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders
• (b) Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA
• (c) Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals
• Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve in audiologist entry-level developmental positions
• Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention, exercise clinical judgment, adapt clinical procedures and techniques, and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care
• GS-12 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
• In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: (a) Skill in determining nature, type, and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders
• (b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders (c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals
• (d) Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure, where applicable
• For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis 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 fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (3) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who 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
• (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (5) NOTE: This grandfathering provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.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: The incumbent's work is moderate
• Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs.)
• Straight Pulling, Pushing, reaching above shoulder, Walking (up to 3 hours)
• Standing (up to 3 hours)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Both eyes required
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of color
• Hearing aid (permitted).