Dental Assistant

Summary

Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions. They receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex patient issues and require daily close supervision. This position will report to the Supervisory Dental Hygienist for the Dental service.

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.

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Policy.) Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• f
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• 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 2 education are qualifying
• (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 - 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)
• (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
• (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
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3:
  Experience or
  
  Education:
  
  (None beyond the above basic requirements) GS-4:
  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)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following: GS-4 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:
  Experience or Education
• In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above -…