Dental Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
This is a full-time Dental Assistant job at the VA Black Hills Health Care System in Fort Meade, South Dakota, part of the Veterans Health Administration. The assistant helps the dentist with patient care and office tasks, and works without close supervision. The job is Monday to Friday, day hours, and may involve up to 25% travel.
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 current permanent federal employees of other agencies. Current permanent employees of the facility, including CBOC employees, should apply under announcement CBSY-13103024-27-AP instead.
What you would do
- Set up dental operatories and surgery suites for planned procedures
- Pass instruments and assist with routine and specialized dental procedures
- Take dental X-rays with good diagnostic quality
- Chart findings and treatment plans in patient records
- Monitor patient condition and vital signs during treatment
- Help patients schedule appointments and fill gaps in the dentist's schedule
Do you qualify for GS-6?
With experience: You need at least 6 months of experience that shows you can do the work or are familiar with it. For the full GS-6 level, you need at least 1 year of experience comparable to GS-5 that shows the core skills at that level, such as dental instruments, procedures, and X-ray imaging.
With education: Completing a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) can qualify you. You can combine education and experience to qualify.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Radiologic competence certification for taking dental X-rays, such as the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination (non-certified applicants may get a temporary appointment)
How to apply well
What to send:
- Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
- Transcript if you use education to qualify
- Professional certification or license if you claim one
- DD-214 / Statement of Service if you claim veterans' preference
- SF-50 if you are a current or former federal employee
- Disability letter (VA) if applicable
- Cover letter if applicable
- Responses to knowledge, skills and abilities (recommended)
How you will be rated: You are rated on how well you meet the qualifications, based on your application questionnaire and documents. The VA checks and verifies your information and may do reference checks. Missing required information or errors can lead to an ineligible rating or a lower score.
Tips for this job:
- Use a long-form resume or CV; the 2-page resume limit does not apply to this job.
- Describe your dental assisting experience clearly and specifically, since the VA will not assume anything.
- If you qualify through education, attach your transcript from a CODA-accredited program.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Travel of 25% or less may be expected.
Incentives and relocation: Recruitment and relocation incentives, including sign-on bonuses and relocation assistance, are not authorized for this job.
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 written and spoken English
- Background and security investigation
- Online onboarding with acceptable ID that is REAL ID compliant
- Pre-employment physical exam
- Seasonal flu 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
- Fort Meade, South Dakota
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Excepted
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Not Required
- Travel
- 25% or less
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Dental Assistant (0681)
- Announcement
- CBSY-13103022-27-AP
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