Dental Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
This job is a permanent, full-time Dental Assistant position at the Iowa City VA Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa, part of the Veterans Health Administration. The assistant helps the dentist with patient care and does clinical and clerical work with limited direct supervision. The schedule is weekday daytime hours, and there is 1 vacancy.
Can you apply?
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.
- Agency employees onlyOnly current employees of the hiring agency.
- Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.
The job is open to the public, but you must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Current permanent VA employees and current permanent federal employees of other agencies are also eligible.
What you would do
- Set up dental rooms and clean equipment between patients
- Pass instruments and keep the work area clear during procedures
- Take and process dental X-rays using safe techniques
- Follow infection control and sterilization rules at every step
- Help patients schedule appointments and fill gaps in the dentist's schedule
- Record findings and treatment plans in electronic patient records
Do you qualify for GS-3 to GS-6?
With experience: Six months of experience that shows you can do the work or are familiar with it qualifies you at GS-3. Higher grades need 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level: GS-4 needs 1 year at GS-3, GS-5 needs 1 year at GS-4, and GS-6 needs 1 year at GS-5.
With education: Completing a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) qualifies you instead of experience. For GS-4, 2 years of education above high school that include a CODA-accredited dental assistant program qualify. For GS-5, a full 4-year course of study that includes or is supplemented by a CODA-accredited dental assistant program qualifies. Experience and education can be combined.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Radiologic competence certification, such as the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination (a temporary appointment is possible if not yet certified)
How to apply well
What to send:
- Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV) (required)
- Transcript if you use education to qualify
- Written answers to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) on a separate document (recommended)
- DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference
- Certification or license documents, if you have them
- SF-50 if you are a current or former federal employee
How you will be rated: You are rated on how well you meet the qualifications, and the VA may check references. Eligible applications are referred in this order: current permanent VA employees at the facility, other permanent VA employees, current permanent federal employees of other agencies, then all other applicants. Your answers and documents are verified, and errors or missing information may lower your rating or make you ineligible.
Tips for this job:
- Your long-form resume or CV must show dates and hours per week for each job, so be clear and specific.
- If you use education to qualify, include your transcript, or the education may not count.
- Submit the full application, including the online questionnaire, by the closing time of 11:59 PM ET; you are responsible for making sure it is complete.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Incentives and relocation: Sign-on bonuses and relocation assistance are not authorized. Benefits include up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months and a child care subsidy after 60 days.
Conditions of employment:
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Drug test (urinalysis) before appointment
- Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
- Must be proficient in spoken and written English
- Background and security investigation
- Online onboarding with acceptable identification (REAL ID required)
- Seasonal influenza vaccination required
- 1 or 2-year trial period
- Pre-employment physical exam or evaluation
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
- $38,736 – $70,498 per year
- Pay scale and grade
- GS-3 to GS-6 · General Schedule
- Location
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Excepted
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Other
- Travel
- Not required
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Dental Assistant (0681)
- Announcement
- CBSY-13105322-27-AP
More jobs like this
-
Veterans Health Administration · Saginaw, Michigan$32,435 – $59,031 per year GS-3 to GS-6 PermanentOpen to everyoneCloses in 9 days
-
Veterans Health Administration · Canandaigua, New York$32,662 – $63,605 per year GS-3 to GS-6 PermanentOpen to everyoneCloses in 2 days
-
Veterans Health Administration · Hot Springs, South Dakota$32,435 – $59,031 per year GS-6 PermanentOpen to everyoneCloses in 6 days
-
Veterans Health Administration · Hot Springs, South Dakota$32,435 – $59,031 per year GS-3 to GS-6 PermanentAgency employees onlyCloses in 6 days
-
Veterans Health Administration · Fort Meade, South Dakota$32,435 – $59,031 per year GS-3 to GS-6 PermanentAgency employees onlyCloses in 6 days