Health Technician - Hearing Instrument Technician

The Incumbent will serves as a Health Technician (HIS) in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at Jack C. Montgomery VAMC, Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The incumbent is a team member of the Audiology Section and is a direct patient care provider responsible for hearing aid maintenance and repairs and provides assistance to the Audiologists in their clinical duties.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 20, 2024 or until position is filled.

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.
• Experience and Education.
  • Experience. Completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists; OR
  • Education. Successful completion of two academic years above high school that includes coursework related to the field: hearing science, human anatomy and physiology, hearing instrument science, gerontology, psychology or other general healthcare areas.
  • NOTE: There is no combination of education and experience which can be substituted for the basic requirements.
• Licensure or Registration. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a HIS in a state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
• Loss of Licensure or Registration. A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required licensure or registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
• Board Certification. Individuals must hold active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS).
  • Exception for Non-Board Certified Health Technician (HIS).
    • Non-board certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for appointment, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Technician (HIS) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).
    • Non-board certified individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a licensed audiologist.
    • Non-board certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until board certification is obtained.
    • Temporary appointments of non-board certified Health Technician (HIS) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
  • Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, Health Technician (HIS) must actively pursue meeting requirements for board certification starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the Health Technician (HIS) with the written requirements for board certification, including the time (i.e., two years) by which the board certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain board certification during the two-year period may result in termination of employment.
  • Loss of Certification. A Health Technician (HIS) who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

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: Health Technician (HIS), GS-06.

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy.
  • Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software.
  • Skill in documenting patient procedures and patient devices.
  • Skill in providing patient education for hearing aid use, to include assisting patient with hearing aid insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection).
  • Ability to provide patient education and training regarding hearing loss and communication strategies for various listening situations.
  • Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aids, hearing assistive technology and patient care that is consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist.
  • Ability to prepare patient, equipment, and/or environment for audiology procedures.
  • Ability to provide triage of patient telephone calls or audiology requests.

Preferred Experience: Knowledge with conducting hearing aid fittings, pairing hearing aid accessories, troubleshooting and repair of assistive listening devices. Experienced in patient care, patient charting and patient education with individuals with hearing impaired individuals. Ability to fabricate ear mold impressions. Detailed oriented. Strong customer service skills and ability to work independently with minimal oversight.

References: VA Handbook 5005/149, Part II, Appendix G73

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The duties of the position require periods of sitting, standing and walking. Work in front of a monitor/screen up to 8 hours per day is required. Lifting/carrying of light items is necessary. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. It requires the ability to utilize an electronic charting system. The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods. There must also be a high degree of eye-hand coordination when working with the small components associated with hearing aids and ear molds. Occasionally a piece of equipment would need to be moved.