KEY REQUIREMENTS



• U. S. Citizenship
• Must pass pre-employment examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

The work schedule for this position is intermittent which means you will contacted to work on as on-needed basis.  There is no guarantee of hours or a regular schedule.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

·        Performs chair side duties along with a staff dentist, passes instruments, medications and materials to dentist; retracts suctions and stabilizes tongue, tissue or cheek

·         Charts examination and treatment information

·         Operates dental x-ray equipment, develops and finishes film, maintains logs, reports, records and files relating to   radiographs taken

·         Cleans and maintains equipment, prepares instruments and medications for patients' treatments

·        Direct patient care when performing suture removal, impressions for diagnostic cast, removal of temporary crowns, bridges, cementing and fabricating temporary crowns; modifies patients care as necessitated by age and abilities (patient transfer and position).

·         Provides post-operative care and appropriate patient education

·         Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public

·         Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories

·         Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information

BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITIONS:  

U.S. Citizenship; AND

Experience and Education

Experience:  Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work;  OR

Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA);  OR

Experience/Education Combination:  Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying;  AND

Certification:  Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.  AND

Physical Requirements: Must meet the requirements of VA Directive and Handbook 5019. AND 

English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English. AND 

In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, the following criteria is used for making grade determinations: 

(1) GS-3

(a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

 (2) GS-4

(a) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level, OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling.  2. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies.  3. Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval.  4. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. 5. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.

 (3) GS-5

(a) Experience or Education

(1) In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience [equivalent to] the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.  

OR,

(2) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.

(3) In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA’s

 (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of anatomy and [ability to evaluate diagnostic quality.  2. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement.  3. Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures.  4. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. 5. Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.

 (4) GS-6 Staff Dental Assistant (Full Performance Level)

(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [following] technical KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy.  2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures.  3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs.  4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist.  5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats.  6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry.  7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records.  8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

References : VA Handbook 5005/46, Part II, Appendix G36, Dental Assistant Qualifications Standard, available in the local Human Resources Office.  

Additional positions may be filled from this announcement.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Work schedule:  Intermittent - you will be called as-needed.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.  Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.  All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. ***

Veterans' Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.   You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life.  For more information please visit us at http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp .  Note:  There are no benefits offered for employees on an intermittent work schedule.

OTHER INFORMATION:

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave:  Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.   VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.  This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

Salary (grade and step) are recommended by the Dental Professional Standards Board.

Additional positions may be filled with this announcement, within 90 days, if vacancies occur.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

YOU MUST INCLUDE VA FORM 10-2850c IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS VACANCY.   You may upload the completed form to your USAJOBS or Application Manager account if you apply online.  Then you can use the uploaded form again and again when applying for future vacancies.  Please see this guide (http://www4.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/uploading-and-using-documents-online.doc) for more information on uploading and re-using the form in your applications.  Other required forms and documents can also be saved in your account and used the same way.  Applicants are urged to apply online; this process is much easier and faster.

Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application, just reapply through your account in USAJOBS.  Check your account ( https://my.usajobs.gov/Login.aspx ) to see the status of your application after applying, including any messages that may have been sent to you.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire: View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the occupational questionnaire: http://www.opm.gov./forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf.
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with all supporting documents to (478)757-3144.  Your 1203FX form must be placed on top of all materials being faxed and will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
4. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:

1. Complete this cover page  http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID: 761945.  You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your documents to be matched with your online application.
2. Fax your documents to (478)757-3144.

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, October 12, 2012.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1.     If current/former Federal employee, include latest SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action. (required). 

2. VA Form 10-2850c - Application for Associated Health Occupations, available at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf (required).

3. Resume (Required)

4. Occupational Questionnaire (required)

5. Optional Form 306 - Declaration for Federal Employment (Available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of0306.pdf). This is an optional form and will be required if you are selected.

6. If prior military service, include all copies of your DD Forms 214 (required). Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must also complete and submit an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf). (Not applicable to current Federal employees)

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After we receive your complete application package (including any required documents), your qualifications will be reviewed to decide if you meet the basic requirements.  You will be notified when this decision is made.