Dental Assistant

Summary

This is an Open Continuous Announcement until September 30 - 2026. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This position is within the Dental Service located at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in Canandaigua - NY. The Dental Assistant supports the dentist across many aspects of direct patient care - performing a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures

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.

• 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:
  Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Experience and
  
  Education:
  
  To fulfill this requirement - you must meet one of the following:
  
  Experience:
  
  Six months experience that demonstrates your 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
• You must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in this 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)
• Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision:
  All Dental Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (04/19/2011) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply:
  Dental Assistants grandfathered under this provision may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Such employees must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Dental Assistants who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Dental Assistants initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If a Dental Assistant who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - they lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations:
  Dental Assistant - GS-03/04/05/06 GS-03 Dental…