Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Summary

This position is located in the Audiology Service at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, AL. The duties and responsibilities are to be carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology and will be under the supervision of a GS-12 staff audiologist or above.

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Duties

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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 dutites.

For GS-5, duties include but are not limited to:

• Greeting and escorting patients.
• Providing patient instruction and basic hearing aid information.
• Non-diagnostic otoscopy.
• Cerumen management.
• Taking earmold impressions.
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair.
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers.
• Performing listening checks on hearing aids.
• Electroacoustic analysis of devices.
• Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology.
• Ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records and that all encounters are correctly documented using electronic medical record and computerized tracking and ordering functions via ROES.
• Managing office supplies.
• Responding to routine inquiries from patients, including determining nature of hearing aid inquiry and responding to administrative questions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

For GS-6, duties include but are not limited to:

• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair.
• Performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology-including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices (troubleshooting performance).
• Fabricating earmold impressions with proper (non-diagnostic) otoscopy.
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC and fitting modifying earmolds, if necessary.
• Counseling on hearing loss or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting.
• Conducting hearing pass/fail screenings without interpretation.
• Providing information for patients and caregiver consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan, including but not limited to realistic expectations, communication strategies, and/or aural rehabilitation.
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures.
• Completes documentation per medical center policy for timeliness for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. Work schedule subject to change based on agency need.

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 62701F, 62702F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 evaluation.
• 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:

• Citizenship : Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience and Education:
  • Experience: 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 the field: hearing science, human anatomy, and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology, or other general healthcare areas.

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 Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS) in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
  • 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).
  • Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technicians (HIS)
    • 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).
    • Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervisions of a licensed audiologist.
    • Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtained.
    • Temporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician (HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary position.
  • Failure to Obtain Certification: In all cases, Health Technicians (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 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.
  • Loss of Certification : A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (HIS) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C 7403(f).

GRADE DETERMINATIONS : In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade.

To qualify as a Health Technician (HIS), GS-05:

• Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must also demonstrate the following KSAs.
  • 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.

To qualify as a Health Technician (HIS), GS-06:

• Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05). Experience at the next lower grade level includes but is not limited to: performing non-diagnostic otoscopy including proper bracing techniques and making appropriate referrals for abnormalities and cerumen management; rechecking air-conduction pure tone threshold testing to assist the audiologist in modifying the treatment plan during hearing aid repair appointments; providing patient care in hearing aid repair appointments, consistent with the audiologist's treatment plan.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
  • Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
  • Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices.
  • Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use, to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection).
  • Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations.
  • Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids, hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist.
  • Ability to prepare patient, equipment, and/or environment for audiology procedures.
  • Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests,

Preferred Experience: Experience working with hearing aids and strong customer service skills.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a health care setting. Physical demands includes but are not limited to: lifting 50 pounds and over; moderate carrying of 15-49 pounds; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; good dexterity (both hands required); prolonged walking and standing; repeated bending, pushing, pulling, and twisting; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); speed in working; and emotional stability. Work may involve exposure to infection and possible contagious diseases. Working conditions include: outside and inside work, exposure to radiant energy, and constant noise.

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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