- Position Title
- Dental Assistant
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBTE-12709563-25-VR Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, March 17, 2025 to Wednesday, April 2, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
Preferences
1.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
- Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
Assessment 1
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
Are you a Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
2.
Do you meet the Physical Requirements, per VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
3.
Do you have English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
4.
Basic Requirement - Education and experience. Select the appropriate answer based on your level of education and experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.
5.
Certification. Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
6.
Do you meet:
GS-3
Experience or Education. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.
OR
Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)].
Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues, and require daily close supervision.
GS-3
Experience or Education. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.
OR
Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)].
Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues, and require daily close supervision.
7.
Do you meet:
GS-4
Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level,
OR
2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)].
Employees at this level serve as [developmental] staff dental assistants. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor.
Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating, positioning chair, placing napkin, performing disinfection and sterilization procedures; performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist; reporting medical emergencies to dentist; preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups; exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision; mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saving digital images to the electronic medical record with direct supervision; complying with standard recommendation for equipment maintenance; retrieving all pertinent patient records prior to seating the dental patient; directing patient to appropriate staff for the intent of scheduling visits.
GS-4
Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level,
OR
2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)].
Employees at this level serve as [developmental] staff dental assistants. It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily and direct contact at the site of work from the assigned supervisor.
Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating, positioning chair, placing napkin, performing disinfection and sterilization procedures; performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist; reporting medical emergencies to dentist; preparing procedural trays/armamentaria set-ups; exposing and processing basic dental radiographs with direct supervision; mounting and labeling dental radiographs and/or saving digital images to the electronic medical record with direct supervision; complying with standard recommendation for equipment maintenance; retrieving all pertinent patient records prior to seating the dental patient; directing patient to appropriate staff for the intent of scheduling visits.
8.
Do you meet:
GS-5
Experience or Education: In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate] at least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
OR
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.
Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants [for routine dental procedures. Direct supervision is given for any complex patient procedures from more experienced dental assistants or the treating dentist]. [Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: responds to basic medical emergencies; measures and records vital signs; provides pre- and postoperative instructions; maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixes basic dental materials; assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms; applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses; exposes and processes basic dental radiographs; mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality; maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards.
GS-5
Experience or Education: In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate] at least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
OR
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.
Employees at this level serve as staff dental assistants [for routine dental procedures. Direct supervision is given for any complex patient procedures from more experienced dental assistants or the treating dentist]. [Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: responds to basic medical emergencies; measures and records vital signs; provides pre- and postoperative instructions; maintains a field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls; using the concepts of fourhanded dentistry, assists with basic restorative procedures; mixes basic dental materials; assists in preparation of laboratory prescription forms; applies pressure indicator paste to removable prostheses; exposes and processes basic dental radiographs; mounts and labels dental radiographs and/or saves digital imaging to electronic medical records; evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality; maintains routine dental equipment per manufacturer and dental service standards.
9.
Do you meet:
GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)
At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.
GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)
At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.
Employee serves at the full performance level with the ability to perform full range of duties with some independence in assigned specialties, with indirect supervision from the lead dental assistant, dental assistant supervisor or treating dentist. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: using the concepts of four-handed dentistry; assists with specialty procedures including oral surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontic, prosthodontic and implant placement and restoration; anticipates surgeons/specialists needs at each stage of treatment; takes preliminary impressions; selects and manipulates a variety of gypsums and waxes; pours, trims and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts; fabricates custom trays.
For each technical area below, select the response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and demonstrated capability.
10.
For the GS-4 Level:
Please explain your basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling].
Please explain your basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling].
11.
Please explain your basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies.
12.
Please explain your ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval.
13.
Please explain your basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment.
14.
Please explain your basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.
15.
For the GS-5 Level:
Please explain your knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
Please explain your knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
16.
Please explain your broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement.
17.
Please explain your Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures.
18.
Please explain your ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA.
19.
Please explain your basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.
20.
For the GS-6 Level:
Please explain your ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
Please explain your ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
21.
Please explain your advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all
phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
22.
Please explain your ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
23.
Please explain your ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
24.
Please explain your ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
25.
Please explain your ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
26.
Please explain your ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.
27.
Please explain your ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.