Individual Occupational Requirements for
GS-665: Speech Pathology and Audiology Series
The text below is extracted verbatim from
Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards
for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-112), but contains minor edits
to conform to web-page requirements.
Use these individual occupational requirements in conjunction with
the "Group Coverage Qualification Standard for
Professional and Scientific Positions."
Degree: For speech pathologist positions,
master's degree that included 18 semester hours in the field of speech pathology with approved
clinical practice. For audiologist positions, master's degree that included 18 semester hours
in the field of audiology with approved clinical practice. Applicants for positions with both
speech pathologist and audiologist duties must have successfully completed all the requirements
for a master's degree with 18 semester hours in one of the fields with approved clinical practice and,
in addition, must have either completed a minor in the other field or must have had at least 1 year
of professional experience in the other field.
Applicants who meet the basic requirements fully qualify for GS-9.
Experience must have demonstrated breadth and level
of knowledge of the principles and theories of speech pathology and/or audiology; skill in analyzing
and interpreting test results in the evaluation of communicative disorders; ability to plan and
conduct a program of therapy independently; ability to communicate effectively, orally and in
writing; and ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals and groups in
evaluating and resolving problems in hearing, voice, language, or speech. Applicants for the speech
pathologist/audiologist combined positions must have had sufficient professional experience in both
speech pathology and audiology to demonstrate their competence to perform the duties involved. The
following are examples of qualifying professional experience that may have been obtained in a
hospital, special treatment center for the disabled, university or community clinic, or industrial or
educational institution:
- Investigating and studying the underlying causes, precipitating factors, symptomatic behavior,
and the emotional and practical effect upon the patient of a particular impaired speech
pattern; resolving speech impairments; and counseling patients and/or families in the
adjustment to the speech impairment (for speech pathologist positions).
- Assessing, evaluating, analyzing, and treating communicative handicaps resulting from hearing
impairments (for audiologist positions).
- Investigating methods to improve the clinical management of communicative disorders and to
increase the basic scientific understanding of communicative processes and other factors
causing their disruption.
- Providing instruction in the principles and bases of communication including clinical
techniques and methods of assessment, evaluation, and treatment to audiologists, speech
pathologists, and specialists in related fields (such as medical residents in otolaryngology).
- Teaching audiology or speech pathology at the graduate level.
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