Health Technician (Audiology)

Description:

This position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PRMS) Service, Audiology section of the North Florida/South Georgia VHS at the Villages VA Clinic. The duties and responsibilities are 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 a staff health technician (Audiology) under the supervision of the audiologist.

Requirements:

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

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.).
• 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. § 7403 (f).
• 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 bachelor's 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.
• Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as 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/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  • If an HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
  • HTAs, HTSLPs or HTASLPs 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.
  • Employees 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 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.

GRADE DETERMINATION

Health Technician (Audiology) - GS-7

• Experience. Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) directly related to the position being filled, such as:
  • 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to mentor and train new HTAs.
  • Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist, such as evoked potentials.
  • Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology.

Reference. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

This position is above Full Performance Level

Physical Requirements. Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Walking (6 hours); Standing (6 hours); Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; Hearing (aid permitted); Use of fingers; Both hands required.