Career Center

The Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is seeking a Audiologist. This position will be located in Lufkin, TX. Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agency, current/past/upcoming VHA Health Professions Trainee graduates should apply under, CBST-11574067-22-LG. 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. Education: Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. ["Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).] NOTE: [Effective] January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA [accredits] only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science. Licensure. For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. NOTE: All audiologists who perform compensation and pension (C&P) examinations are considered to be performing direct patient care duties, and must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology (38 CFR 4.85). (1) The audiologist must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration.(2) Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c). Failure to obtain licensure during appointment as a graduate audiologist is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS12 level without being fully licensed. This may result in termination of employment. [(3)] The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities. [(4)] An audiologist who has, or has ever had, his/her audiology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9: Education and Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11: Education and Experience. Completion of 1 year of professional experience as an audiologist equivalent to the next lower level; or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree; or doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a directly related field. For positions involved in research audiologist assignments involving no direct patient care, no additional education or professional experience is required beyond those identified at the GS-9 level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) identified for the assignment.] Staff Audiologist. Staff audiologists at this grade level perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention. If unlicensed, the individual must function under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. [The following KSAs are required: [a.] Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; [b.] Ability to communicate orally and in writing. [c]. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, acoustics, applied acoustics, communication, psychoacoustics, and auditory/vestibular pathophysiology; [d]. Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders; [e.] Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice; and [f.] Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals. GS-12: Licensure. The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Education and Experience. In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. For positions involved in research audiology assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [KSAs identified for the assignment. Staff Audiologist. Staff audiologists at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial [(less that 25% of the time). The following KSAs are required: [a.]. Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies; [b.]Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently; [c.] Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions [d.] Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals; [e.] Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; and [f.] Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G29 The full performance level of this vacancy is 9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 12. Physical Requirements: The work requires periods of walking and standing. Moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds. Requires the use of both eyes, hands and legs. Works within a clinical setting. ["This position is located in the Audiology Section of the Operative Care Line at the Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic in Lufkin, TX. (This is a community based clinic under Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC)). The duties of this position are to perform independently the full range of audiological activities for the care of outpatients presenting with the most difficult and complex hearing disorders, including those patients whose communicative abilities are compounded by emotional and/or extreme physical symptoms, on an independent basis. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the Charles Wilson VA Outpatient clinic. The staff audiologist conducts a full range of audiological evaluations to determine the type and degree of hearing loss, determines patients' need for amplification, predicts and measures the effectiveness of amplification, and determines need for and type of rehabilitation and counseling of veterans with hearing loss and their families. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 580-00590-F; 580-00591-F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]