About this role
Job Summary
The Health Technician (Audiology) (HTA) provides clinical and administrative support for the Audiology Service and Teleaudiology Program. Under the supervision of the Specialty Care Nurse Manager, the incumbent assists with audiologic assessments and hearing aid services (including hearing aid selection, and hearing aid fittings, hearing aid orders, and repairs). The HTA supports the Teleaudiology Program and functions as a clinical telepresenter.
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 Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Experience and/or Education Requirement: 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: Experience Requirement: 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, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to mentor and train new HTAs. Ability to prepare patients for advanced testing procedures performed by the audiologist, such as evoked potentials. 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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07.
Physical
Requirements
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Major Duties
- As a Health Technician (Audiology), you will: Assist the Audiologist with hearing evaluations, hearing aid selections, hearing aid fittings, and hearing aid follow-up.
- Perform otoscopy and hearing screenings including pure tone, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions.
- Perform invasive procedures such as ear impressions and cerumen management (competency required).
- Complete Hearing aid checks, troubleshooting, and repairs.
- Enter hearing aid orders and repair services via ROES.
- Complete adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the Audiologist's plan of care.
- Serve as a technical expert in the operation and maintenance of specialized equipment.
- Gather and compile statistics for necessary reports.
- Coordinate activities of the clinic with medical support services throughout the organization.
- Participate in performance improvement activities.
- Manage clinic inventory including devices to be fit, loaner devices, and clinic supplies.
- Complete documentation in the medical record.
- Carry out other duties as assigned.
- Teleaudiology duties include but are not limited to: Serve as a telepresenter during telehealth encounters.
- Configure, install, troubleshoot, clean, and perform minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology including hardware and software with assistance of Biomed and IT.
- Provide established standardized competency-based training, guidance and information on the use of advanced telehealth technologies to patients, staff, and providers.
- Provide established standardized competency-based training for telehealth technology.
- Participate in performance improvement activities.
- Develop report procedures, sample techniques and measurements at various points in the telehealth processes to identify/analyze inherent weaknesses in work and procedures.
- Coordinate clinic setup and monitoring of workload capture and issues for assigned patient and provider clinics including telehealth resource-based scheduling.
- This includes placing interfacility consults as needed, prior to the scheduled appointment.
- Manage inventory and supplies.
- Complete documentation in the medical record.
- Carry out other duties as assigned.
- Work Schedule: Tour Varies
- Monday through Saturday
- 07:30am to 05:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 12013-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. 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.