Health Technician; Audiology

Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET.

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
• Experience:
  
  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
• English Language Proficiency:
  In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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 - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Heath Technician (Audiology) - GS-06
  
  Experience:
  
  Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge
  - Skills and Abilities:
  
  In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• (b) Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families
• (c) Knowledge of hearing aids - hearing assistive technology - hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• (d) 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
• (e) Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures
• (f) Ability to document and code patient procedures
• (3) Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level HTA
• The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this position include – but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids 9 and hearing assistive technology
• repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory
• restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement
• and ordering - registering - certifying - issuing and tracking prosthetic devices
• The health technician assists in setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures
• The health technician provides clinical procedures consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care which may include non-diagnostic otoscopy - cerumen management - foreign body removal and ear mold impressions and without interpretation - immittance screening and hearing screening
• The health technician educates patients - family and staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care - maintenance - use and operation - hearing conservation and realistic expectations for hearing aid use
• The health technician completes documentation for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist
• Heath Technician (Audiology) - GS-07
  
  Experience:
  
  Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge
  - Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSAs):
  In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to mentor and train new HTAs
• (b) Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist - such as evoked potentials
• (c) Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology
• (3) Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance…