Speech Language Pathologist

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: A master’s degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. “Accredited” means a college or university [recognized] by a regional accreditation organization and a speech-language pathology academic program [recognized] by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. The S-LP must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for S-LP licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate S-LP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment. Individuals appointed as graduate S-LPs 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. A S-LP who has, or ever has had his/her speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed on a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. 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). GS-12, Speech-Language Pathologist Licensure: The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Education and Experience: Completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-11) and possession of a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. For positions engaged in research S-LP assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for the assignment. Assignment: Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Staff S-LPs at this grade level must demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of speech-language pathology to a wide range of populations. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the time). The following KSAs are required: Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently. Ability to conduct assessments, provide treatment interventions, and provide consultation to other health care professionals. Knowledge of instrumentation used in speech-language pathology. Knowledge of principles and techniques used in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive-communication disorders. Knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients. Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G30 Preferred Experience: Acute inpatient experience, outpatient experience, has knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation FEES and VFSS, has knowledge of principles and techniques used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive communication disorders; has experience in TBI. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
The incumbent serves as a staff Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&R), at the VACCHCS Fresno. The SLP is a therapist who identifies, diagnoses, and provides speech/language/cognitive retraining therapy for all appropriately referred inpatients, outpatients, and Community Living Center (CLC) patients.