The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the New Mexico Veterans Administration Health Care System in Albuquerque, New Mexico is actively recruiting for a Staff Audiologist. The audiologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders, and completes examinations for adjudication purposes. 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 Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology. 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. Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist at the GS-11 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that these audiologists provide care only under the supervision of fully licensed audiologists. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. Failure to Obtain Licensure: In all cases, the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. Loss of Credential: In collaboration with HR office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure, which may also result in separation from employment. 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-11: (1) Education: None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders. (b) Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice as defined by the American Academy of Audiology or the ASHA. (c) Ability to interact with patients, families and other health care professionals. (3) Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve in audiologist entry-level developmental positions. Audiologists perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention, exercise clinical judgment, adapt clinical procedures and techniques and document in the medical record appropriate information related to patient care. GS-12 (1) Experience: In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower grade level. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: (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. (3) Assignment: This is the full performance level for staff audiologists. At this level, audiologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Audiologists serve as consultants to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing, tinnitus and balance disorders. References: VA Handbook 5005/152 Part II Appendix G29The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 or GS-12. Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Clinical duties and responsibilities include: Direct patient care of inpatients and outpatients involving a full range of diagnostic and routine audiological examinations, hearing instrument evaluations, auditory monitoring of patients who have been prescribed ototoxic medications, balance evaluation, and treatment services including the selection and fitting of hearing instruments, other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing impaired veterans and their families. Identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language, and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity. Administers the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. Responsible for planning, delivering, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions; including but not limited to the selection and fitting of all types of hearing instruments; programming of digital hearing instruments; issue of hearing protection devices for prevention of noise induced hearing loss; selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices such as personal and FM amplifiers, blue tooth accessories, telephone amplifiers, radio or TV magnetic induction devices for special communication problems; and inspection, evaluation, modification, and repair of amplification devices and ear molds. Plans, conducts, and coordinates aural rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients; designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers in maximizing/restoring physical and social functioning to the greatest extent possible; and designs, monitors, and conducts comprehensive hearing evaluations for employees at risk for noise exposure. Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on hearing, tinnitus, hearing instruments and balance disorders. Responsible for supervising, evaluating, mentoring, and precepting student trainees in audiology and maintain a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities. He/she may also provide instruction to medical residents and interns who seek information relating to audiology. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm\nTelework: Not available.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]