Health Technician (Audiology)

Veterans Health Administration • Charleston, SC

30d • Onsite

About The Position

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service is seeking full-time Health Technicians (Audiology) for the VA Medical Center in Charleston South Carolina and the Myrtle Beach VA Clinic in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. These positions are located in the Audiology Service at Ralph H Johnson VA Healthcare System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service. The health technician supports the function of the clinical programs in Audiology.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• 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.
• HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• OR Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position.
• OR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled.
• CAOHC certification as a COHC is required for this assignment.
• Ability to conduct employee hearing conservation education and training.
• Knowledge of the hearing conservation program requirements to manage records and files.
• Ability to perform pure tone air conduction testing.
• Ability to provide audiologic technical support to the employee hearing conservation program.
• Ability to identify a threshold shift and make appropriate referrals for further testing when indicated.
• The health technician works under the direction of a licensed audiologist.
• The health technician may perform pure tone air conduction threshold testing for established patients and employees, without interpretation.
• The health technician may provide employee hearing conservation education and training, basic counselling of employees concerning test results and criteria for employee referral.
• The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients.
• The work requires above average agility and dexterity.

Nice To Haves

• 2 plus years experience as an Audiology Health Technician
• CAOHC certified
• Must be able to work independently
• Good communication skills

Responsibilities

• Triaging patients to an audiologist based on complexity of the procedures being completed
• Patient set up for procedures (e.g., vestibular, neurodiagnostic procedures)
• Patient instruction and counseling on hearing loss, hearing protection, or hearing aids either on an individual basis or in a group setting
• Conducting hearing pure tone air-conduction testing without interpretation for the purpose of hearing conservation and for established patients in regular VA clinic
• Non-diagnostic otoscopy
• Cerumen management
• Taking earmold impressions
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Providing basic hearing aid information for patients and caregivers
• Performing listening checks on hearing aids
• Electroacoustic analysis of devices
• Pairing hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth technology
• Programming previously stored settings into hearing aids
• Activating remote controls
• Training of employees and patients on personal hearing protection devices
• Managing office supplies
• Tracking loaner stock hearing aid inventory
• Electronic ordering, verifying orders upon arrival to ensure components are present and working correctly
• Packaging and mailing hearing aids and accessories
• Processing ROES transactions (e.g. certifying and issuing hearing aids, entering orders and repairs)
• Completing adjustments to hearing aid settings as outlined in the audiologist's plan of care
• Preparing patients for advanced diagnostic procedures such as evoked potentials
• Collaborating with team to develop training programs for patients and staff
• Performing pure tone air conduction threshold testing for established patients and employees, without interpretation
• Providing employee hearing conservation education and training
• Basic counselling of employees concerning test results and criteria for employee referral
• Collaborating with the Hearing Conservation Program Manager and managing records associated with the hearing conservation program

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree