Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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The Dentist functions as a privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and is responsible for providing comprehensive oral health care to eligible Veterans consistent with approved clinical privileges, professional standards, and local facility policy. This position is intended for a dentist whose scope includes comprehensive dental care for medically complex patients, maintenance of a moderate sedation permit as required by local and state law, and supervision of dental residents in an accredited training environment. The attending dentist has primary responsibility for the care of assigned patients and for appropriate oversight of residents involved in patient care.

• CORE SCOPE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE: The incumbent may evaluate, diagnose, treatment plan, and provide general dental care and other procedures specifically authorized through credentialing and privileging processes at the facility. Practice may include comprehensive dental treatment for medically compromised patients in ambulatory, hospital-based, and, in some cases, operating room settings. The dentist is expected to accept full responsibility for the proper care and treatment of assigned patients and to maintain accepted standards of professional care in VA facilities.
• MODERATE SEDATION RESPONSIBILITIES: The incumbent must possess and maintain an active moderate sedation permit when required by the jurisdiction and facility, and may provide moderate sedation only when separately trained, privileged, and compliant with applicable policy, equipment, staffing, monitoring, emergency preparedness, and documentation requirements.
• RESIDENT SUPERVISION AND TEACHING: This position includes service as an attending dentist in a facility conducting residency training programs. VA qualification standards provide that attending dentists must be able to train residents assigned to the service and must possess privileges to perform all procedures being supervised.
• RESPONSIBILITIES- Provides comprehensive, patient-centered general dental care, including examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of the full scope of general dentistry procedures, with referrals to dental and medical specialists when indicated.- Evaluates, diagnoses, and treats diseases and conditions of the teeth, periodontium, jaws, oral soft tissues, and related oral structures, and manages patient pain and anxiety through appropriate administration and monitoring of medications and anesthetic agents.- Delivers dental care to patients with complex medical conditions, including those requiring treatment under anesthesia, collaborates with other health professionals to optimize overall health, and ensures clear, timely, and accurate documentation of clinical findings, decisions, and treatment in the electronic health record.
• INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TEAM-BASED PRACTICEThe incumbent is expected to function effectively in an interdisciplinary, team-based environment and to collaborate with dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, expanded function dental auxiliaries where applicable, residents, students, schedulers, nursing personnel, anesthesia or operating room staff as appropriate, and other health professionals in the coordination of Veteran care.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: This is not a telework position. Ad hoc for weather and safety leave only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.

Dentist Basic Requirements

• A degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery or dental medicine resulting from a course of education in dentistry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are (1) United States and Canadian schools of dentistry listed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation(CODA), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia as qualifying for full and unrestricted licensure provided the licensure requirements include a written examination measuring science achievement and a performance examination measuring clinical competence certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. ~AND~
• Completed, or you are currently completing, a residency program in general practice or specialty, or comparable experience as a dentist actively involved in treating medically compromised patients. ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a current, full and unrestricted license to practice dentistry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Note: Dentists must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.

Preferred Experience: Preferred experience includes successful completion of a General Practice Residency (GPR) or comparable advanced postdoctoral training, with strong preference given to dentists who have developed broad clinical competence in hospital-based or medically complex patient care environments. VA qualification standards specifically recognize completion of an approved residency in general practice or specialty
training, and VA GPR programs emphasize advanced training in comprehensive care for medically compromised patients.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a proven ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, team-based clinic environment, partnering effectively with dentists, hygienists, assistants, trainees, administrative staff, and other health professionals to deliver high-quality care to Veterans. VA training materials and supervision policy stress coordinated care, communication with other health care professionals, and shared responsibility for quality and safety in patient care.

Preferred candidates should also have experience supervising, teaching, and mentoring dental residents, with the ability to provide appropriate clinical oversight, foster progressive resident development, and maintain accountability for patient care and treatment quality. VA standards for dentists specifically reference the ability to train residents, and VHA supervision policy describes resident education as an organized program of guidance, evaluation, and supervision tied to patient care quality.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which may require light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 1 hour), standing (up to 1 hour), and both legs required. In addition, there may be exposure to the following environmental factors: working inside and outside, working closely with others, and protracted or irregular hours of work. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There may be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids

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.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.