This is an external job announcement. Current permanent Chillicothe VAMC, current permanent VA employees from another facility, and current permanent employees from another Federal Agency MUST apply under the INTERNAL announcement CBSR-11682249-23-KC, unless applying by using Veteran Preference. All applicants applying under this external announcement will be subject to Veterans' preference. 1. COVERAGE. Following are requirements for appointment as a Dental Assistant in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These requirements apply to all VHA dental assistants in the General Schedule (GS)-681 series. 2. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. b. Experience and Education (1)Experience. Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. OR, (2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). (3)Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. c.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. (1) Provisions forCertification 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). (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. d. English Language Proficiency. Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance VA Handbook regulations. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.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.Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G36. Dental Assistant, Job Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. This work requires long periods of standing and walking as well as considerable bending and stooping. Patient mental and physical status will require the incumbent to be able to assist patients during transfer that is required of examinations and treatment. The incumbent of this position is expected to understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information; understand, remember, and communicate routine, factual information; understand problems and to collaborate and explore alternative solutions; understand opposing points of view and to integrate different viewpoints; organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology; organize and prioritize own work schedule; count accurately; and understand and follow basic instructions and guidelines. ["The incumbent of this position is responsible for performing the duties of a dental assistant in a hospital-based dental clinic at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center. The incumbent serves as a staff dental assistant at the full performance level for routine patient care and performs a full range of duties with indirect supervision from the treating dentist and dental supervisors. Performs assigned selected procedures with some independence. Assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical, clerical, and administrative functions independently of direct supervision. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Prepares dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions. Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Properly stores and maintains adequate levels of supplies in assigned rooms and operatories. If, at any time, the incumbent notices any supplies running low in the supply room, he/she immediately notifies the responsible person so that supplies can be reordered. Ensures instruments and unapproved items are not left in operatory during non-patient care hours. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Monday thru Friday, Monday thru Wednesday, 7:30am - 4:00 pm, 7:30am-4:00 pm Thursday and Friday\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 91682-A; 91683-A; 91684-A; 91836-0\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
