Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Technician)

Veterans Health Administration • Salisbury, NC

7d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Audiology & Speech Service at the W.G. “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina. The Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist, or HIS) supports clinical programs in Audiology and performs duties in clinical and other patient-care areas. The position works under the supervision and direction of a licensed audiologist; non-board-certified appointees may provide care only under audiologist supervision. The vacancy may be filled at GS-5 or GS-6, with GS-6 identified as the full performance level. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is an open continuous announcement through January 13, 2027, and qualified applicants may be referred as vacancies arise.

The technician troubleshoots and repairs hearing aids and hearing assistive technology; checks devices and accessories; takes earmold impressions using appropriate non-diagnostic otoscopy; orders, fits, and modifies earmolds; and provides patients and caregivers with basic hearing-aid information consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan. The technician helps prepare and deliver in-person and telehealth visits, including equipment preparation and daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment. Patient support includes helping with applications, Bluetooth, device pairing, and accessories.

The position also requires documenting each episode of care and coding procedures in the patient record for audiologist co-signature; maintaining equipment and supply tracking and inventory; processing devices received from patients; preparing and charging devices for delivery; restoring device settings after manufacturer or Denver Logistics Center repairs or replacements; maintaining shipping supplies; and responding to Veterans’ electronic and telephone communications, arranging follow-up and ordering supplies through the Denver Logistics Center as directed by the audiologist’s plan of care.

Basic eligibility requires either completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists or two academic years above high school with relevant coursework. A full, current, unrestricted state or equivalent license or registration to practice as a HIS and active NBC-HIS board certification are required, subject to the described temporary graduate appointment exception for eligible non-board-certified applicants. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, proficient in written and spoken English, and meet applicable background, identification, and other federal employment conditions. Grade-specific qualifications include relevant knowledge and skills in anatomy, infection control, computer use, communication, inventory, hearing aids and assistive technology, patient education, documentation, preparation for audiology procedures, and triage, depending on grade.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Either completion of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists or successful completion of two academic years above high school with relevant coursework; education and experience cannot be combined to substitute for this requirement.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license or registration to practice as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Active board certification from the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS), subject to the stated temporary graduate appointment exception for eligible non-board-certified applicants.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-5: knowledge of basic head and neck anatomy; basic infection-control procedures and guidelines; basic computer software for email, spreadsheets, and word processing; oral and written communication; ability to follow instructions; and ability to maintain stock and supply inventories.
• For GS-6: one year of experience equivalent to GS-5; knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy, hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, manufacturers, and manufacturer software; skill documenting patient procedures and devices; ability to educate patients on hearing-aid use, insertion, removal, hygiene, hearing loss, and communication strategies; ability to solve device and patient-care problems consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under audiologist supervision; ability to prepare patients, equipment, and environments for audiology procedures; and ability to triage patient calls or audiology requests.
• Non-board-certified eligible appointees must actively pursue board certification and obtain it within the specified two-year period; they may be appointed only at entry level and may not be promoted or converted until certified.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, required identification and onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet physical requirements referenced in VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair hearing aids and hearing assistive technology.
• Perform visual and auditory checks of hearing aids, accessories, and alerting devices and troubleshoot performance.
• Fabricate earmold impressions using proper non-diagnostic otoscopy; order earmolds according to the plan of care and fit or modify them as needed.
• Provide patients and caregivers with basic hearing-aid information consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan, including realistic expectations, communication strategies, and aural rehabilitation.
• Prepare equipment for patient evaluations and audiology procedures for face-to-face and telehealth visits, including daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment and calibration of real-ear equipment.
• Assist patients with hearing-aid connectivity, including application downloads, app pairing, Bluetooth pairing, and pairing accessories.
• Document each episode of care according to medical-center timeliness policy and code procedures in the patient record for audiologist co-signature.
• Maintain comprehensive supply and equipment tracking systems, monitor stock of reusable medical equipment and consumables, and maintain adequate inventory levels.
• Prioritize acquisition of supplies and equipment based on expiration dates and, when applicable, maintain a loaner hearing-aid inventory.
• Process devices received from patients with hearing-aid or hearing-assistive-technology concerns.
• Prepare and charge hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery.
• Receive devices returned from manufacturer or Denver Logistics Center repair or replacement and restore their settings.
• Maintain adequate mailing and shipping supplies.
• Receive and complete Veterans’ electronic and telephone communications and facilitate follow-up consistent with the audiologist’s treatment plan, including ordering supplies through the Denver Logistics Center.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on qualifying prior federal, military, or other work experience, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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