Dental Assistant

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. VA Handbook 5005, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.

English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a.

Experience and Education
(1) Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work,
OR,
(2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA),
OR,
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

• 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

• Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.
• Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry.
• Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant:

Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following] technical KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
• Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal care, and procedures.
• Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
• Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.
• Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.
• Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.
• Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.
• Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G36. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.


Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing, walking, sitting, and bending are required. Pushing Dental equipment and carts is necessary to deliver items to and from the operatory or procedure site. Pushing and/or lifting of patients from gurneys and/or wheelchairs from and to the waiting area and transferring them into and out of the dental chair is required to position for radiographs, dental examination, and treatment. Reaching above shoulders, use of fingers, and both hands are required. Full dexterity of both hands, arms, and wrist. Must be able to treat patients while sitting and/or standing for long periods of time. Must have the ability to distinguish basic colors. This job requires good hand-eye coordination and the ability to evaluate and make good decisions. Must be able to multitask and have the ability the work independently.