Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

USAJOBS - Job Announcement

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Summary

The VA Heartland Network is currently recruiting for one Health Technician Hearing Instrument Specialist at each facility within the network.

Leavenworth KSTopeka KSMarion ILEvansville INCBOCWichita KSColumbia MOKansas City MOPoplar Bluff MOWest Plains CBOCSaint Louis MO

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.

Overview

The VA Heartland Network is currently recruiting for one Health Technician Hearing Instrument Specialist at each facility within the network.

Help

Accepting applications Open & closing dates 02022026 to 12312026 Salary40736 to - 59031 per year Pay scale & gradeGS 00 Locations6 vacancies in the following locations Marion IL Evansville IN Leavenworth KS Topeka KS Show morefewer locations 5 Wichita KS Columbia MO Kansas City MO Poplar Bluff MO Saint Louis MO Remote jobNo Telework eligibleNo Travel RequiredOccasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursedNo Appointment typePermanent Work scheduleFull-time ServiceExcepted Promotion potential6 Job family Series 0640 Health Aid And Technician Supervisory statusNo Security clearanceOther Drug testYes Position sensitivity and riskNon-sensitive NSLow Risk Trust determination processCredentialing SuitabilityFitnessFinancial disclosureNo Bargaining unit statusNo Announcement numberCAZO-12871532-26-JH Control number856237800

Duties

• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Performing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology
• Including all hearing aid accessories as well as alerting devices
• Troubleshoots performance
• Fabricating earmold impressions
• Ordering earmolds based on plan of care through prosthetics or DLC
• Fitting and modifying earmolds if necessary
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Consistent with the audiologists treatment plan
• Including but not limited to:
• Realistic expectations
• Communication strategies
• Aural rehabilitation
• Assisting in set up and delivery of face-to-face and telehealth visits
• Preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures
• Including but not limited to:
• Daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment
• Calibration of real-ear equipment
• Assisting patients with hearing aid connectivity
• Including but not limited to:
• Downloading applications or apps
• Pairing devices in the app
• Pairing hearing aid accessories

Requirements

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States U.S.
• Experience and Education
• 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.
• 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.
• Certification
• Individuals must hold active board certification from the National for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences NBC-HIS
• Exceptions 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. § 7405c2B.
• 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.
• 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.
• Language Proficiency
• Health Technician HIS candidates must be proficient in spoken and written in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403f.

Grade Determination

• Health Technician HIS GS-05.
• Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities GS-5.
• In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Knowledge of basic anatomy of the head and neck.
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines.
• Skill in using basic computer software to complete tasks such as using email creating spreadsheets and word processing.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories.
• Health Technician HIS GS-06.
• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Knowledge Skills and Abilities GS-6.
• 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.

Education

• IMPORTANT
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• Note
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges universities schools or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
• You can verify your education here http://ope.ed.gov/acccreditation.
• If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
• For further information visit http://sites.ed.gov/internationalrecognition-of-foreign-qualifications.

Additional Information

• During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.
• Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
• VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
• The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
• If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
• Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.
• For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and AdministrationOperations Security and Preparedness HRAOSP at The Fair Chance Act.
• Reasonable Accommodation RA Requests
• If you believe you have a disability i.e. physical or mental covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
• Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
• Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
• If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision.
• You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire system if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
• To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
• The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan ICTAP and Career Transition Assistance Plan CTAP provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
• To be