The incumbent serves as an Audiologist in the Primary Care Service at the VA Central California Healthcare System, CA. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with this service (CBOC's in Tulare, Merced and Oakhurst). The audiologist conducts Audiological assessment to determine degree and type of hearing impairment, assess and treat positional vertigo when appropriate.

Duties

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: The incumbent serves as an Audiologist in the Primary Care Service at the Fresno VA Central California Healthcare System, CA. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with this service (CBOC's in Tulare, Merced and Oakhurst). The audiologist conducts Audiological assessment to determine degree and type of hearing impairment, assess and treat positional vertigo when appropriate. Other responsibilities include determining a patient's need for amplification, predict effectiveness of amplification, determine need for and type of aural rehabilitation and counseling of the hearing impaired veteran and their family. II. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: ASSESSES THE DEGREE & NATURE OF HEARING LOSS: Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals. Administers the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may not be able to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. RECOMMENDS REMEDIAL MEASURES TO MITIGATE HEARING LOSS: The incumbent is responsible for direct services of a remedial and sometimes preventive nature. The services encompass the following: Use of hearing aids; the selection of monaural, binaural or cross hearing aids of particular type; routine hearing aid inspection and repair where indicated. Evaluates for the issuance of ear defenders for prevention of acoustic trauma for those individuals working in a noisy environment; recommendations for special ear molds made necessary because of allergic reactions, severe hearing loss or other reasons. Works with senior audiologists on recommendations for procurement of special instruments such as desk amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems. Recommends aural rehabilitation programs for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions initially with assistance of experienced audiologists until familiar with local programs. Designs training plans to assist patient and caregivers in utilizing available hearing resources as he/she develops familiarity with program availability. Develops ability to make a recommendation for change of job in those cases where hearing loss is progressing due to high noise level exposure. Incumbent will perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. ["Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).]NOTE: [Effective] January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA [accredits] only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science. Licensure. For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), [ ] the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. NOTE: Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c). Failure to obtain licensure during appointment as a graduate audiologist is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. This may result in termination of employment. 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). All audiologists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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: [(1)] Such employees [ ], 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]. [(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 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. [(4)] If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Licensure The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Education and Experience In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. For positions involved in research audiology assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for the assignment. [a.] Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies. [b.] Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently. [c.] Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions. [d.] Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals. [e.] Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice. [f.] Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice. Assignments Audiologists at this grade level are independent licensed practitioners and are considered to be at the full performance level. Staff audiologists at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial [(less that 25% of the time). References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/38, PART II, APPENDIX G29. AUDIOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0665, Veterans Health Administration dated August 24, 2010. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 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).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Fresno VA Medical Center 2615 East Clinton Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 US
• Name: Havel Respes
• Phone: 415-221-4810 X23728
• Email: [email protected]