Dental Assistant

What you would do

• Assist the dentist with complex treatments.
• Prepare patients for surgery, including checking vital signs and medical history.
• Set up instruments, equipment, and materials for procedures.
• Take dental X-rays, develop film, and maintain X-ray equipment.
• Maintain dental equipment and inventory in clean, working condition.

Do you qualify for GS-5?

With experience: One year of specialized experience comparable to GS-4 work. It must include chair-side help for a dental specialist during procedures inside the mouth.

With education: A full four-year course of study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours in radiation topics, such as radiation physics, radiation biology, radiation safety, X-ray film quality, radiographic techniques, darkroom processing, and film mounting. You can also combine education and experience so that the total reaches 100%: divide your months of experience by 12, divide semester hours beyond two years by 60, and add the two results. Foreign education must be evaluated by a recognized private organization or receive full U.S. credit.

Licenses and certifications you need:

• Radiology certification as a radiographer, meeting the federal standards in 42 CFR Part 75 (basic requirement)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Red Cross, which you must obtain and maintain

How to apply well

What to send:

• Resume, two pages or less, showing employer, job title, start and end dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and duties
• Copy of your current, active, valid, unrestricted radiology certification
• College transcripts from accredited schools if you qualify through education
• Proof of U.S. citizenship
• Most recent performance appraisal, if applicable
• Cover letter (optional)

How you will be rated: You will be rated on how well you meet the qualifications, using your resume, supporting documents, and online questionnaire. Missing or incomplete documents can make you ineligible. If your qualifications or experience are found to be inflated, you may lose consideration.

Tips for this job:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must clearly show your one year of chair-side dental work; longer resumes are removed.
• If you qualify through education, upload official transcripts from accredited schools with your application or you may be rated ineligible.
• Upload your current, active, unrestricted radiology certification early, since uploads can take up to an hour to clear the virus scan before the 11:59 PM EST deadline on 11/04/2026.

Good to know before you apply

Schedule: Full-time. May require on-call work during irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying schedules. Required to report during contingency operations, natural disasters, and emergencies.

Incentives and relocation: A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized. Salary negotiation may be available for new federal employees. Student loan repayment may be authorized. Relocation expenses are not reimbursed, and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.

Conditions of employment:

• Background investigation and Personnel Security Investigation required
• Possible suitability or fitness determination
• Pre-placement medical examination required
• Drug test, including random drug testing
• Moderate to heavy lifting, up to 44 pounds
• On-call work during irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Tuberculosis testing required
• Hepatitis B immunization required; other immunizations may be required
• Consent to seasonal flu vaccination or have a recognized exemption
• May be required to wear a uniform or protective clothing
• 1-year probationary period
• Selective Service registration for men born after December 31, 1959
• Direct deposit of pay required
• Mission Essential: must report to work during emergencies
• Selection may be limited by the Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees

Job details

Salary

$41,143 – $53,486 per year

Pay scale and grade

GS-5 · General Schedule

Location

Offutt AFB, Nebraska

Appointment

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Competitive

Openings

1

Security clearance

Not Required

Travel

Not required

Drug test

Not required

Supervisory

No

Occupation

Dental Assistant (0681)

Announcement

HSJW-26-13060971-DHA-R