Health Technician; Hearing Instrument Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology Service at the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, NC. 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. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026.

Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

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.

• 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:
  Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Experience and
  
  Education:
  • Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists.
  • OR
    
    Education:
    
    Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to hearing science, human anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology or other general healthcare areas.
  • Foreign
    
    Education:
    
    To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• NOTE:
  
  There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements.
• Licensure or Registration:
  Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
• Board Certification:
  Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC‑HIS).
• 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 outlined above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
  • Health Technician (HIS) – GS‑05
    • (1)
      
      Experience:
      
      None beyond the basic requirements.
    • (2) Knowledge –
      
      Skills and Abilities:
    • Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck.
    • Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
    • Skill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email, creating spreadsheets and word processing.
    • Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
    • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
    • Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.
  • Health Technician (HIS) – GS‑06
    • (1)
      
      Experience:
      
      One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS‑5).
    • This experience must be equivalent to the next lower grade and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with current Health Technician responsibilities.
    • Experience includes but is not limited to: performing non‑diagnostic otoscopy, rechecking air‑conduction pure tone threshold testing, providing patient care in hearing aid repair appointments, completing visual and auditory checks with a listening stethoscope, processing incoming devices, preparing and charging hearing aids, receiving devices and restoring settings after repair or replacement, and maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies.
    • (2) Knowledge –
      
      Skills and Abilities:
    • Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
    • Know…