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
• Education and Experience: A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology (SLP), communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience OR A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university
• Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)
• Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed
• The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities
• An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in the conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• English Language Proficiency: Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 USC 7403(f) Grade Determinations: Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-11 (1) Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in assessing and treating disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing
• (b) Knowledge of instrumentation and technologies for assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders
• c) Ability to adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions, needs and goals
• Assignment
• SLPs at this entry developmental grade level assess and treat patients with routine speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders following the principles of evidence-based practice and perform clinical procedures with respect to age-specific, unique patient conditions and needs
• When assessing and treating patients with complex or rare speech, language, voice, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders, SLPs may require consultation with an SLP at the full performance or higher level
• Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-12 (1) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level, GS-11, and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations
• (b) Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations
• (c) Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions
• Assignment
• This is the full performance level
• At this level, SLPs independently provide evidence-based assessment and treatment interventions to individuals with a wide range of speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders
• Staff SLPs select, administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized assessment measures
• They integrate assessment findings into a patient-centered treatment plan of care and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by collecting and documenting treatment outcomes
• SLPs may be assigned to work in a specific clinical area such as traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, movement disorders or spinal cord injury
• They may provide clinical training experiences for trainees and students and participate in research activities 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)
• Preferred Experience: Experience in treatment of Parkinson's Disease via a voice treatment protocol such as LOUD or other preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position entails constant talking, engaging, hearing patients, families, and VA team members
• It requires constant fingering or hand movement to include typing, manipulation of clinical supplies
• It requires constant vision including far and near for standard size print, with depth perception for test manipulation and reading equipment or electronic records
• It requires frequent reaching, standing, walking, repetitive motion, balancing, bending, and kneeling for working with age-specific patients with various mobility issues and posturing
• It requires occasional lifting over 25-50 pounds for supplies or moving patients in wheelchairs or other mobility devices
• It requires occasional pushing and crouching
• This position requires the incumbent to travel by government vehicle to Community Based Clinics, Saginaw locations, and Home-Based Care as a regular and reoccurring part of their duties (valid driver's license required).