Dental Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
The Veterans Health Administration is hiring one Dental Assistant at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan. Dental assistants give routine patient care and help with some complex procedures under the supervision of the treating dentist or more experienced staff. The job is a permanent, full-time position that works four 10-hour shifts a week.
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.
- Agency employees onlyOnly current employees of the hiring agency.
Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.
The job is open to the public, but only U.S. citizens, nationals, or people who owe allegiance to the U.S. can apply. First consideration goes to current permanent employees of the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center and its associated Community Based Outpatient Centers.
What you would do
- Set up exam rooms and surgical suites for planned dental procedures.
- Assist the dentist during routine and specialized dental procedures.
- Monitor patient vital signs, including during sedation and recovery.
- Chart findings and treatment plans in patient records.
- Pour impressions and prepare study models.
- Provide post-operative and other patient education.
Do you qualify for GS-3 to GS-6?
With experience: You need six months of experience that shows you can do the work or are familiar with it. To qualify for GS-4, you need 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level. To qualify for GS-6, you need at least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that shows the core skills for that level.
With education: Completing a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by CODA (the Commission on Dental Accreditation, run by the American Dental Association) can qualify you instead of experience. For GS-4, 2 years of college that included a CODA-accredited dental assistant program can qualify you. For GS-5, a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by a CODA dental assistant program can qualify you. Combinations of experience and education can also qualify.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Radiologic competence certification for X-ray work, such as the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination or an equivalent course and exam listed in the announcement
How to apply well
What to send:
- Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (the 2-page resume limit does not apply)
- Professional certification, such as a dental radiology course transcript or certificate
- Transcript if you use education to qualify
- SF-50 if you are a current or former federal employee
How you will be rated: You will be rated on how well you meet the qualifications, using the occupational questionnaire and your documents. Eligible applications are referred in this order: current permanent VA employees of the facility, other VA employees, then all other applicants.
Tips for this job:
- Upload a transcript or certificate for the dental radiology course, which the announcement says you must include.
- Be clear and specific about your experience, because the VA will not assume details about your work.
- If you already work at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center as a permanent employee, you receive first consideration.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time compressed schedule of four 10-hour shifts, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The specific day is set after selection.
Incentives and relocation: A sign-on bonus may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Relocation assistance is not authorized.
Conditions of employment:
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Drug test (urinalysis) before appointment
- Selective Service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English
- Background and security investigation
- Online onboarding with acceptable ID; driver's licenses must be REAL ID compliant
- Pre-employment physical exam
- Participation in the seasonal flu vaccination program required
- 1 or 2-year trial period
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently
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-3 to GS-6 · General Schedule
- Location
- Saginaw, Michigan
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Excepted
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Not Required
- Travel
- Not required
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Dental Assistant (0681)
- Announcement
- CBSR-13083499-27-ET
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