Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Qualifications 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: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English Experience and Education: Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Experience: Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-05) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled OR (2) 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 c 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 (1) Loss of Licensure or Registration A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment Board Certification Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS) (1) Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS) (a) Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B) (b) Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologist (c) Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry (2) Failure to Obtain Certification In all cases, Health Technician (HIS) must actively pursue meeting requirements for board certification starting from the date of their appointment At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the Health Technician (HIS) with the written requirements for board certification, including the time (i.e., two years) by which the board certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline Failure to obtain board certification during the two-year period may result in termination of employment (3) Loss of Certification A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment Grade Determinations:GS-06 Health Technician ((Hearing Instrument Specialist) (1) Experience: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) directly related to the position being filled Examples of experience related to the GS-05 grade level includes but not limited to answering and screening calls from patients regarding audiology needs assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment assisting with walk-in appointments processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology and preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery Maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include: monitoring stock of RME and consumable items ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate all the following KSAs clearly in your resume: Preferred Experience: 1-2 years as an Audiology Health Tech (Hearing Instrument Specialist) in a clinical setting preferred Must be able to work independently and have excellent communication skills Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06 Physical Requirements: Required periods of sitting, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting (under 15 pounds) light carrying (under 15 pounds) use of fingers and both hands required good vision with corrective glasses or contacts or hearing with aid Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others Applicants for this position must pass a pre-employment medical examination. ]]]]>