Health Technician (Audiology)

Summary

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is hiring for two Health Technician (Audiology) for their Audiology (AUD) Section of the Rehabilitation Care Line (RCL). This facility is a Complexity Level 1b.

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Duties

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The duties of Health Technician Audiology (HTA) includes but are not limited to the following:

• Primary responsibility is for patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education, which do not require a full professional audiology education, or knowledge and skills represented by audiology licensure. Support functions include both direct patient care and administrative duties.
• Direct patient care includes: Greeting and escorting patients; triaging patients to an audiologist based in complexity of the procedures being completed; patient set-up for procedures (e.g., vestibular, neurodiagnostic procedures); patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting; conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation; non-diagnostic otoscopy, cerumen management; taking earmold impressions; hearing aid troubleshooting and report; providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers; performing listening checks on hearing aids; electroacoustic analysis of devices; paring hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology; programming previously stored settings into hearing aids; and activating remote controls.
• The incumbent at this level is required to have knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop and implement the technician role for training new Health Technician Audiology (HTA) and may hold responsibility for training of the Health Technician Audiology (HTA) up to and including the full performance level. Health Technician Audiology (HTA) at this level may also hold responsibility in assisting the Audiologist in training new Telehealth Technicians in the skills needed for care of the hearing aids during telehealth appointments.
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical record and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES.
• Administrative duties to include: Managing office supplies, tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory, electronic ordering, verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly, scheduling appointments; packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories; processing ROES transactions (e.g.,, certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs); responding to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions; assisting patients, visitors, and others requesting information; management of infection control, patient safety, and clinical supplies for the audiology clinic; maintenance of clean, disinfected instrumentation, equipment, and work surfaces in the audiology clinic; reprocessing reusable medical equipment based on facility policy according to Medical Center infection control procedures and reusable medical equipment policies.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 93556-A, 93557-A, 93558-A and 93559-A

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

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.
• English Proficiency: Health Technician Audiology (HTA) , HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoke and written English to be appointed by 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f).
• Experience and Education .
  
  
  • 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.

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 :

GS-4 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above.

Assignment: This is an entry level developmental position. The Health Technician Audiology (HTA) at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist.

GS-5 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrated the knowledge skills and abilities related to the duties of the position. For example: answering and screening calls from patients, assisting with walk-in appointments, processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology, preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery, or successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck.

2. Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.

3. Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies.

4. Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.

5. Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.

6. Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing.

Assignment. This is a developmental position. The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist.

GS-6 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position. For example: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology, repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory, restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement, ordering, registering, certifying, issuing and tracking prosthetic devices, setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits, providing 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, educating patients, family and staff, completing documentation for each episode of care.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.

2. Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families.

3. Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.

4. 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.

5. Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures.

6. Ability to document and code patient procedures.

Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level Health Technician Audiology (HTA) . The Health Technician Audiology (HTA) at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist.

GS-07: Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.

In addition, incumbent must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

1. Ability to mentor and train new Health Technician Audiology (HTA)s;
2. Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist, such as evoked potentials, and;
3. Ability to develop and implement the technician role for a program in a focused area of audiology.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-07.

Physical Requirements: Physical requirements are those physical, mental and emotional capabilities and characteristics that are essential for successful job performance. Physical requirements must be clearly supported by the actual duties of the position and documented in the position description or functional statement, and supported by a studies or evaluations establishing physical requirements is job-related to the occupations. An applicant or employee may not be disqualified arbitrarily on the basis of physical requirements or other criteria that do not relate specifically to performance of the duties of a specific position.

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: 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:

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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