Health Technician (Audiology)

Summary

This Health Technician (Audiology) position serves the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service

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Duties

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Duties of the Health Technician (Audiology) include, but are not limited to:

• Health Technician (Audiology) (HTA) interacts with veterans to solve hearing device problems during scheduled appointments. Responsible for minor hearing aid repairs brought in or mailed by the veterans or requested by the Audiologists for veterans without a scheduled appointment.
• Tasks include performing non-diagnostic otoscopic examination on patients, evaluate hearing aid function and fit, clean and change earmold or hearing aid tubing, receiver and filter, clean and adjust the battery contacts, remove impacted cerumen from the hearing aid, program and pair hearing aids post repair, download appropriate hearing aid app and pair the hearing aids with veterans' smart phone, instruct veteran how to use the hearing aid app on their smart phone and proper hearing aid care
• Consults with Audiologists to determine the patient's need for loaner hearing aids from clinic stock
• When a hearing aid is to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the HTA places hearing aid repair in the Remote Order Entry System (ROES), prepares all necessary paperwork and shipping label, packages the hearing aid for shipment and records the shipment and the tracking number
• Provides patients with appropriate hearing aid supplies and batteries and place the supply order in ROES
• Assist audiologists in removing wax
• Assist audiologists in entering hearing test result in hearing aid fitting module prior to hearing aid dispensing
• Monitors the timeliness of manufacturer's delivery of new or repaired hearing aids and custom earmolds to ensure all devices, supplies, and parts are available for hearing aid fitting and patient pick up
• Tracks and certifies hearing aid orders in ROES as they are received, taking necessary steps to expedite or correct delayed orders or devices and inform audiologists and scheduling staff when devices fail to arrive in clinic
• Inspects hearing aids to ensure device integrity, charge the hearing aids, and perform listening checks before returning the device to veteran via a method requested by the veteran
• Ensure patients examining rooms are stocked with necessary supplies

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service)

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : GS-4, 564-01556-F; GS-5, 564-01557-F; GS-6, 564-01558-F

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.
• 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 evaluation.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• 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 :

1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

2. English Language Proficiency . Health Technician (Audiology) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38U.S.C. § 7403(f).

3. 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 : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Health Technician Audiology, GS-04:

Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Health Technician Audiology, GS-05:

Experience . One year 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 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully 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

Health 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:

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.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06 .

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment : Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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

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.

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.

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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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.