Clarification from the agency

Open to current and permanent employees at the Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center and VA-staffed Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Grove City, Marion, Zanesville, Newark Ohio. Open to U.S. Citizens

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Job duties include but are not limited to:

• Employee will demonstrate professionalism by treating all internal and external customers with respect and accountability.
• They will maintain relationships with coworkers which permit teamwork, cooperation, resource sharing, and problem solving.
• The dental assistant will demonstrate ICARE Values when caring for our Veterans. The incumbent will handle confrontations and hostile reactions calmly, striving to diffuse the situation.
• The incumbent will assist the dentist as assigned and provide additional support to other assistants and co-workers during the workday.
• The dental assistant utilizes the techniques of four-handed dentistry in the dental operatory and assists in the operating room following operating room sterile procedures when assigned to assist on a rotation with our part time Oral Surgeon.
• Anticipating the operator's needs with a thorough and timely set up and during each stage of treatment, the incumbent passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• The dental assistant retracts safely and keeps the operative field visible and clean of debris throughout the dental procedure.
• He or she prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturers' instructions and labels materials accordingly.
• The dental assistant adheres to the necessary clinic standard operating procedures, aseptic technique, and infection control procedures for the entire set-up, treatment, and takedown phases of patient care.
• The incumbent assists in monitoring the patient by noting vital signs.
• As directed by the dentist, they will record the medical history, and chart during the exam and treatment planning appointments.
• Will assist department Medical Support Assistants in scheduling patients within time constraints established by VHA policies. Accurately completes lab prescriptions and timely schedules patients for intermediate prosthetic steps to ensure the completion of care.
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

A. Citizenship. 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.

B. 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.

C. 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.

1. 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,

b. 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,

c. Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

2. 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.

3. Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

4. 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.

5. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations:

GS-6 - Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)

A. 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:

B. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.
2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.
3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.
4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.

Preferred Experience: 2 Years experience in dental assistance.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G36.The full performance level of this vacancy is 06.

Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing or standing are required in the position. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally or 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects is required.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.