Health Technician (Audiology)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Houston, TX, United States
Summary
This Health Technician (Audiology) position serves the Audiology Section of the Operative Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, TX. The primary responsibilities are patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education.
Qualifications
Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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: Health Technician (Audiology) must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Experience and Education: Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities; or two academic years above high school leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester hours in related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education (e.g., three months of experience with one year of post‑high‑school education with at least 6 semester hours related to health care).
Foreign Education: Education completed outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a private organization specializing in foreign credential interpretation and deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. programs.
Certification: None (may qualify under the Grandfathering Provision for current VHA employees who meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations for GS-0640-7: Completion of one year of progressive experience directly related to the position; KSAs include the ability to mentor and train new HTAs, prepare patients for advanced testing procedures (e.g., evoked potentials), and develop and implement the technician role for a focused area of audiology.
Duties
Primary responsibility is patient care: supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education.
Support functions include direct patient care and administrative duties.
Mentor and train new Audiology health technicians.
Direct patient care duties: greeting and escorting patients; triaging to audiologist; setting up for vestibular and neurodiagnostic procedures; providing instruction on hearing loss or hearing aids; conducting hearing pass/fail screenings (non‑interpretive); performing otoscopy; cerumen management; taking earmold impressions; troubleshooting and repairing hearing aids; providing basic hearing aid information; performing listening checks; electroacoustic analysis; pairing hearing aids via Bluetooth; programming stored settings; and activating remote controls.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop and implement the technician role for a focused area of audiology (approximately 25% of duties).
Accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records using the electronic medical record system and ROES.
Administrative duties: manage office supplies; track loaner hearing‑aid inventory; verify electronic orders; schedule appointments; package and mail hearing aids; process ROES transactions (certify and issue hearing aids, enter orders and repairs); respond to routine inquiries; assist patients and visitors; manage infection control and clinical supplies; maintain clean and disinfected instrumentation; reprocess reusable medical equipment according to policy.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 AM‑4:30 PM (subject to change).
Benefits and Working Conditions
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.
Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases; potential for a higher step rate for unique qualifications.
Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days annually (13‑26 days annual leave, 13 sick leave, 11 federal holidays). Veterans may qualify for additional leave credit.
Parental Leave: After 12 months, up to 12 weeks paid.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days, full‑time employees with income below $144,000 may receive up to 25% of childcare costs (maximum $416.66).
Retirement: Traditional federal pension with 5‑year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution.
Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care programs available.
Telework: Not available; this is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00506F; PCS: Not authorized.
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This Health Technician (Audiology) position serves the Audiology Section of the Operative Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, TX. The primary responsibilities are patient care, supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting and patient education.
Qualifications
Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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: Health Technician (Audiology) must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Experience and Education: Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities; or two academic years above high school leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester hours in related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education (e.g., three months of experience with one year of post‑high‑school education with at least 6 semester hours related to health care).
Foreign Education: Education completed outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a private organization specializing in foreign credential interpretation and deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. programs.
Certification: None (may qualify under the Grandfathering Provision for current VHA employees who meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations for GS-0640-7: Completion of one year of progressive experience directly related to the position; KSAs include the ability to mentor and train new HTAs, prepare patients for advanced testing procedures (e.g., evoked potentials), and develop and implement the technician role for a focused area of audiology.
Duties
Primary responsibility is patient care: supporting diagnostic and treatment procedures, patient charting, and patient education.
Support functions include direct patient care and administrative duties.
Mentor and train new Audiology health technicians.
Direct patient care duties: greeting and escorting patients; triaging to audiologist; setting up for vestibular and neurodiagnostic procedures; providing instruction on hearing loss or hearing aids; conducting hearing pass/fail screenings (non‑interpretive); performing otoscopy; cerumen management; taking earmold impressions; troubleshooting and repairing hearing aids; providing basic hearing aid information; performing listening checks; electroacoustic analysis; pairing hearing aids via Bluetooth; programming stored settings; and activating remote controls.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop and implement the technician role for a focused area of audiology (approximately 25% of duties).
Accurate documentation of all interactions in the medical records using the electronic medical record system and ROES.
Administrative duties: manage office supplies; track loaner hearing‑aid inventory; verify electronic orders; schedule appointments; package and mail hearing aids; process ROES transactions (certify and issue hearing aids, enter orders and repairs); respond to routine inquiries; assist patients and visitors; manage infection control and clinical supplies; maintain clean and disinfected instrumentation; reprocess reusable medical equipment according to policy.
Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 AM‑4:30 PM (subject to change).
Benefits and Working Conditions
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.
Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases; potential for a higher step rate for unique qualifications.
Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days annually (13‑26 days annual leave, 13 sick leave, 11 federal holidays). Veterans may qualify for additional leave credit.
Parental Leave: After 12 months, up to 12 weeks paid.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days, full‑time employees with income below $144,000 may receive up to 25% of childcare costs (maximum $416.66).
Retirement: Traditional federal pension with 5‑year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution.
Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care programs available.
Telework: Not available; this is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00506F; PCS: Not authorized.
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