Speech-Language Pathologist

This position is located within the Audiology & Speech Pathology service within the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The incumbent plans, conducts and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic assessments and evaluations and therapeutic and rehabilitative services for speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Plans, conducts, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary medical speech-language pathology practice.
• Performs independent diagnostic assessment of cases without limitation as to difficulty or complexity.
• Independently select, administer and interpret the diagnostic tests necessary to evaluate and detect any type of speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive and/or swallowing disorder.
• Uses instrumentation (e.g. videofluoroscopy, nasoendoscopy, stroboscopy, surface electromyography, computer technology, etc) to observe, collect data and measure parameters of communication and swallowing in accordance with the principles of evidence-based practice.
• Provides rehabilitation to individuals with voice disorders including alaryngeal and tracheostomized or ventilator-dependent patients.
• Develops and implements treatment plans.
• Responsible for planning, conducting, coordinating and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitation services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible.
• Provides routine counseling and guidance to each individual Veteran concerning their impairment.
• Serves as consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is recognized subject matter expert on matters related to speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive and swallowing disorders.
• Supervises and mentors graduate students and other trainees in speech pathology.

Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday OR Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00AM-4:30PM
(Work schedule may change due to operational needs of service.)
Compressed/Flexible: At Management's Discretion
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• English Language Proficiency: SLPs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section, paragraph 5a.
• Education. (1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.). OR (2) A doctoral degree in speech language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.

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).


Grade Determinations:
Experience GS-12: In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology.


Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a)Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations.
(b)Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.
(c)Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions


Preferred Experience: Experience working in inpatient acute care and/or acute rehab settings, competencies in Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), videostroboscopy, and tracheostomy/ventilator management.

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.


Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary, but requires walking, bending, stooping, and reaching for objects on shelves. On occasion, work may require assisting patient by tugging, lifting, or pushing the patient in a wheelchair or stretcher to maneuver within the clinical or testing environment.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 interest. In 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.