Audiologist- Vestibular Specialist

The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the VASNHCS including all clinical and inpatient and outpatient care areas requiring Audiology services. The functions of the Audiologist (Vestibular Specialist) are comprised of administrative, educational, and clinical duties. She/he assesses and manages patients presenting with dizziness and imbalance as a result of vestibular disorders, both peripheral and central, as well as non-vestibular causes of dizziness.

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.
• Education
  • (1) Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the [Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
  • OR
  • (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology.
  • Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
• Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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).
• Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but previously met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • (1) Audiologists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  • (2) Audiologists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
  • (3) Audiologists who are appointed temporarily prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  • (4) Audiologists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS 13

• (1) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level (GS 12)
  • Example of GS 12 experience:
    • (a) Skill in determining nature, type, and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders.
    • (b) Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders.
    • (c) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals.
    • (d) Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.
• (2) DemonstratedKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required:
  • (a) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program.(b) Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met.
  • (c) Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members.
  • (d) Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes.
  • (e) Ability to serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and provide education relating to the specialty program.

Preferred Experience:
a. Highly organized and ability to multi-task effectively.
b. Ability to interact with patients, families and other health care professionals successfully.
c. At least 5 years experience as a professional audiologist with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level (GS 12)
d. At least 3 years experience with vestibular patient care in the past seven years.
e. At least one year or program management experience.

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).

Grandfathering Provision.
Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure, where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(3) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
(4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(5) NOTE: This grandfathering provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements.

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 13.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent's work is moderate. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs.); Straight Pulling, Pushing, reaching above shoulder, Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of color; Hearing aid (permitted).

Responsibilities:

The position of Audiologist (Vestibular Specialist) is located in the Audiology Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R) in the VASNHCS. The work location will primarily be the Medical Center of VASNHCS but may require travel to Primary Care Clinics and Community Based Outreach Clinics which are part of VASNHCS. As of FY26Q1, the facility has newly installed equipment including rotary chair, CDP, VNG and AEP.

Duties to include but not limited to the following:

The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to
(1) serving as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Vestibular evaluation/diagnosis, testing standards and creation of clinical protocols/standards;
(2) directing the Audiology Section Vestibular Program by leading clinical education and staff training activities for patients, family members, audiology staff, physical therapy staff, and other clinical staff who are in any way involved in caring for vestibular patients;
(3) maintaining a collaborative clinical program with the ENT department, Neurology department, physical therapy department, and other related services within VA SNHCS as well as DoD or community care providers that treat Vestibular patients;
(4) collecting and analyzing data to improve program operations, functional outcomes and further develop clinical standards and
(5) other significant responsibilities.

Work Schedule: Wednesday thru Saturday 7:00 am - 5:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09577F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $108,719