Dental Assistant

Summary

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is recruiting for two Dental Assistants to help care for our Veterans in Tulsa
- Oklahoma. This is an open continuous announcement until September 25 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

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:
  Must be a US Citizen
• 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
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency:
  Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Dental Assistant - GS-3 Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Dental Assistant - 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 Association (CODA)
• -AND-In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge
  - Skills - and Abilities:
  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
• Dental Assistant - GS-5 Experience or Education
• In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above - applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level - OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA
• -AND-In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge
  - Skills - and Abilities:
  Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality
• Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement
• Basic knowledge of instruments - materials and standardized dental procedures Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA
• Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol
• Staff Dental Assistant - GS-6 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• -AND-In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical…