Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist)

Quick Facts

• Role: Health Technician (Hearing Instrument Specialist) supporting an Audiology Clinic

• Work schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

• Coverage: Primary duty station with routine float coverage across multiple clinics as needed

Description

This role supports audiology patient care by cleaning, repairing, troubleshooting, processing, and modifying hearing aids and other assisted listening/speech devices. You will help manage patient flow, provide instruction and counseling on hearing loss and hearing aids, perform non-diagnostic otoscopy, and assist with screening, earmold impressions, and hearing aid servicing. The position also includes audiology equipment setup and daily calibration, electroacoustic analysis, Bluetooth pairing and programming tasks, and basic administrative and infection-control responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Greet, escort, and educate patients and caregivers (individual or group)

• Conduct hearing pass/fail screenings; perform non-diagnostic otoscopy

• Take earmold impressions

• Perform hearing aid troubleshooting and repair; execute listening checks

• Provide device and communication guidance, including realistic expectations and basic aural rehabilitation

• Set up and support face-to-face and telehealth visits by preparing equipment for audiology procedures

• Prepare equipment for patient evaluations, including daily biologic listening calibration of audiometric equipment

• Perform electroacoustic analysis; pair hearing aids and accessories via Bluetooth

• Program previously stored settings into hearing aids; activate remote controls

• Assist with triage of phone calls and audiology requests based on priority and urgency following the audiologist’s plan of care

• Support administrative tasks (supplies, loaner stock inventory, electronic ordering, scheduling, packaging/mailing devices, ROES transactions)

• Maintain infection control and patient safety: clean/disinfect instruments and work surfaces; reprocess reusable medical equipment; perform functional checks for audiometric test equipment daily

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Subject to background/security investigation; pass pre-employment physical

• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement

• Hold a full, current, unrestricted HIS license/registration

• Hold active NBC-HIS board certification (or be eligible for a temporary graduate appointment under the stated exception)

• Meet education/experience basic requirements: DOL Apprenticeship Program for Hearing Aid Specialists OR two academic years above high school with relevant hearing/audiology-related coursework

• Ability to maintain required licensure/registration and board certification; actively pursue board certification timeline if applicable

• Ability to meet physical requirements per VA Directive and Handbook 5019

• For males: Selective Service registration (born after 12/31/1959)

• If selected for testing-designated position: comply with urinalysis drug screening

Benefits

Federal employment includes a comprehensive benefits package; eligibility depends on the type of position and schedule.