Audiologist

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the West Palm Beach VA Health Care System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. The Audiologist conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders.

Duties may include, but not limited to the following:

• Plan and coordinate all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice.
• Selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their family.
• Identify and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity.
• Administer the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics.
• Plan, delivery, and monitor the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions.
• Plan, conduct, and coordinate auditory (aural) rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients.
• Design patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning; and designs, monitors, and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure.
• Serve as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders.
• Supervise, evaluate, mentor, and precept student trainees in audiology and maintaining a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities.
• Provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information relation to audiology.
• Responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation.
• Participate in research activities pertinent to clinical audiology.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41710F, 40301F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• United States Citizenship. Must be a United States Citizen per VA policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education:
  • 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,

• 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.
• 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.
• Exception for Non-Licensed Audiologist. Non-Licensed applicants 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).
• Grandfathering Provision. 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. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified.

Audiologist, 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.

Audiologist 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.
• 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.

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. Work is primarily sedentary, and most of the duties can be accomplished sitting comfortably, while others require walking, standing, bending, and carrying or moving items, notebooks, papers, and books. The work is performed in an office and Medical Center setting but will routinely travel to other sites. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. May routinely drive between all sites of care

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 dentification 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.