Dental Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
This is a full-time Dental Assistant job at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in Canandaigua, New York, run by the Veterans Health Administration within the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System. The dental assistant helps the dentist with patient care, X-rays, and clinic setup and records. The announcement says a recruitment or relocation incentive may be paid, and travel of up to 25% may be expected.
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.
The job is open to the public, and the announcement says you must be a U.S. citizen, national, or someone who owes allegiance to the U.S. to apply. It also says non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
What you would do
- Assist the dentist with chairside procedures and pass instruments.
- Operate dental X-ray equipment for intra-oral and extra-oral images.
- Set up operatories and clean dental units between patients.
- Take preliminary impressions and help make temporary crowns and bridges.
- Check patient vital signs and apply dentist-prescribed topical treatments.
- Schedule appointments and record patient medical and dental history.
Do you qualify for GS-3 to GS-6?
With experience: At the basic level, you need six months of experience that shows you can do the work or are familiar with it. GS-4 needs 1 year of experience at the next lower level, and GS-6 needs 1 year of experience at the GS-5 level that shows core dental assisting skills.
With education: Completing a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) can qualify you instead of experience. Experience and education can be combined. For GS-4, 2 years of education above high school that includes a CODA-accredited dental assistant program can qualify, and for GS-5, a full 4-year course of study that includes or is supplemented by a CODA dental assistant program can qualify.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Certification of radiologic competence for X-ray work, or a temporary graduate dental assistant appointment if not yet certified
How to apply well
What to send:
- Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV); the 2-page resume limit does not apply
- Transcript if you use education to qualify
- Cover letter, DD-214, disability letters, professional certification, SF-50, or other listed documents only if they apply to you
How you will be rated: You will be rated on how well you meet the qualifications, based on your online questionnaire, resume, and supporting documents. The VA will verify your information, does not assume experience, and says errors or missing items may affect your consideration.
Tips for this job:
- Describe your experience clearly and specifically, with dates and hours per week, because the VA will not assume anything.
- If you use education to qualify, send transcripts from a school accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized body.
- Check the document list for items that apply to you, such as DD-214 or disability letters, and submit everything by 11:59 PM ET on 11/05/2026.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Incentives and relocation: A recruitment or relocation incentive (sign-on bonus) may be paid to a highly qualified candidate. Relocation expenses are not reimbursed.
Conditions of employment:
- U.S. citizenship
- Drug test (urinalysis)
- Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
- Proficient in written and spoken English
- Background and security investigation
- Online onboarding with acceptable ID; non-REAL ID driver's licenses are not accepted
- Pre-employment physical examination
- Seasonal influenza vaccination required, or an exemption with a face mask
- 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
- $32,662 – $63,605 per year
- Pay scale and grade
- GS-3 to GS-6 · General Schedule
- Location
- Canandaigua, New York
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Excepted
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Other
- Travel
- 25% or less
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Dental Assistant (0681)
- Announcement
- CBTE-13104526-27-AW
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