Dental Assistant

Overview

* This is an Open Continuous Announcement and will remain open until April 28 - 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 11 - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.*

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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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)
• 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
• They must have completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation - and be certified as radiographers in their field
• Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence (a) 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)
• 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). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• This position may involve 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:
  Dental Assistant - GS-3
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment
• Employees at this level serve in dental assistant career development positions and require daily close supervision
• Dental Assistant - GS-4
• 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 CODA
• In addition - KSAs:
  Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 1
• Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling
• 2
• Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies
• 3
• Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval
• 4
• Basic knowledge of maintenance - care and storage of dental equipment
• 5
• Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements
• Assignment
• Employees at this level serve as development staff dental assistants
• Assignments at this level include receiving and preparing patient for treatment including seating, positioning, and other preparatory tasks
• Performing basic chair side assisting with direct instruction from treating dentist
• 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
• Complying with standard recommendations for equipment maintenance
• Retrieving all pertinent patient records prior to seating the dental patient
• Directing patient to appropriate staff for scheduling visits
• Dental Assistant - GS-5:
  In addition to GS-4 requirements, 1 year of experience or CODA-certified education
• Demonstrated KSAs: anatomy, diagnostic quality, medical emergencies, dental materials, software use in VHA, patient instruction, and other related skills
• Assignments include responding to basic medical emergencies and supporting dental procedures
• GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant:
  At least 1 year of…