Summary

Washington - DC VAMC is filling one or more vacancies for a Dental Assistant - GS-0681-3/4/5/6. Opening Date: December 14 - 2025 Closing Date: June 30 - 2026 Cut-Off Date: December 28 - 2025 - January 11 - 2026 - January 25 - 2026 - February 8 - 2025 -February 22 - 2026 - March 8 - 2026 - March 22 - 2026 - April 5 - 2026 - April 19 - 2026 - May 3 - 2026 - May 17 - 2026 - May 31 - 2026 - June 7 - 2026 - June 21 - 2026. The cut-off date will be used to evaluate candidates for the initial available vacancies.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part.- Experience and Education: Experience
• Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work - or provides familiarity with the work
• OR Education
• Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• OR 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.
• OR 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
• OR Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD)
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a) (1) (D)
• Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• This [will result in removal from the GS-681 series and] may result in termination of employment
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
• The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants
• DANB certification is not required - but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level - and is required for all positions above the full performance level
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 - Dental Assistant Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment: 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-4 - Dental Assistant 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)]
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval
• Basic knowledge of maintenance - care and storage of dental equipment
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements
• GS-5 - Dental Assistant 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 GS-4 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• Examples of GS-4 experience include: receiving and preparing patient for treatment
• 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
• etc
• 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
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement
• Basic knowledge of instruments - materials and standardized dental procedures
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol
• GS-6 - Dental Assistant Experience: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower GS-5 grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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
• Preferred Experience: 1
• Certified Dental Assistant 2
• Preferred at least 3 years of Dental Assistant experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting & carrying (under 15 lbs)
• Use of fingers on both hands required
• Walking & Standing (6 hrs)
• Both legs required (1 prosthetic) - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing aid (permitted).

Duties

• Dental assistants at this level serve in dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties while receiving general supervision
• The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision
• ??????? Major Duties include - but are not limited to: Chair side Assisting Responds to basic medical emergencies
• Measures and records vital signs
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover
• Charts existing restorations and conditions
• Selects shades for fixed and removable prosthesis
• Provides chair side assistance - fully anticipating dentist's needs for various instruments - materials and services
• Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions
• Dental Imaging Images are characterized by diagnostic quality - accurately oriented and exposed
• Exposes both standard and specialty dental imaging (i.e. - TMJ - cone beam) in digital formats
• Modifies settings to achieve the images as requested by provider
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized - and retakes are minimized
• Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame
• Infection Control Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning dental operatories
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination
• Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization
• Follows all Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment
• Instruments are properly pre-treated for pick-up by SPS personnel
• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images
• Clerical Functions Assists in filling gaps in the dentist's schedule due cancellations and failed appointments
• Assists dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Assist with entering Return to Clinic Orders
• Information Management Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Follows computer security regulations
• Patient Safety Modifies care as necessitated by patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position)
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Participates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements
• Monitors patient condition during treatment - being alert for signs of physical distress
• Monitors patient (BP - pulse) - and condition during invasive procedures and during recovery period following procedure
• Employee Education Complies with Employee Education requirements
• Maintains BLS certification that includes operation of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) per Medical Center Policy
• Dental Laboratory Functions Takes preliminary impressions for study models
• Pours impressions and prepares study models
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims
• Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available