Dental Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
This Dental Assistant job is with the VA Black Hills Health Care System in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and works with the Veterans Health Administration. The assistant helps the dentist with patient care and office tasks, and works independently of direct supervision. The job is a day schedule, Monday to Friday, with no telework and travel of up to 50 percent possible.
Can you apply?
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.
- Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
This job is open to U.S. citizens and to current permanent federal employees of other agencies. Current permanent employees of the facility, including CBOC employees, should apply under announcement CBSY-13103260-27-AP instead.
What you would do
- Set up the treatment room and clean the dental unit between patients
- Pass instruments and keep the work area clear during procedures
- Take dental X-rays with good image quality and few retakes
- Assist the dentist in routine and specialized dental procedures
- Schedule patients and fill gaps left by cancelled appointments
- Chart findings and treatment plans in patient records
Do you qualify for GS-6?
With experience: For the GS-6 full performance level, you need at least 1 year of experience at the GS-5 level that shows the core skills for that level. The basic requirement is six months of experience that shows you can do the work or are familiar with it.
With education: Completing a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) qualifies you. You can also combine education and experience. Schools must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Radiologic competence certification for dental X-ray work, such as the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination, or a temporary appointment until you earn it
How to apply well
What to send:
- Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV), required
- Written responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (recommended)
- Transcript if you use education to qualify
- Professional certification or license if you claim one
- DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference
- SF-50 if you are a current or former federal employee
- Cover letter, if applicable
How you will be rated: You are rated on how well your application meets the qualifications, and your experience and documents will be verified. Missing information or errors may lower your rating or make you ineligible.
Tips for this job:
- Describe your dental assistant experience clearly and specifically, because the VA will not assume anything about it.
- If you use a dental assistant program to qualify, include your transcript with your application.
- Plan for the drug test, the flu vaccine requirement, and the REAL ID rules for onboarding.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Travel of up to 50 percent may be expected.
Incentives and relocation: Sign-on bonuses and relocation help are not authorized. Benefits include paid time off, parental leave after 12 months, a child care subsidy after 60 days, and retirement with VA contributions to a 401K of up to 5 percent.
Conditions of employment:
- U.S. citizenship required
- Drug test (urinalysis) before appointment
- Selective Service registration for men born after 12/31/1959
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English
- Background and security investigation
- Online onboarding with identification that meets REAL ID rules
- Pre-employment physical examination
- Seasonal influenza vaccination required
- 1 or 2-year trial period
We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.
Job details
- Salary
- $32,435 – $59,031 per year
- Pay scale and grade
- GS-6 · General Schedule
- Location
- Hot Springs, South Dakota
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Excepted
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Not Required
- Travel
- 50% or less
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Dental Assistant (0681)
- Announcement
- CBSY-13103259-27-AP
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