Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.Education and Experience: 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
• Dental Radiographer Certification: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75
• Essentially, you 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 your field
• Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence: Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.
• OR, Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry
• OR, Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD)
• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification: The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants
• DANB certification it is required for all positions above the full performance level
• This position is above the full performance level
• English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part
• Grade Determinations:Experience
• At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level
• At the GS-07 grade level employees e performs a higher level, scope, complexity and variety representing the clinical assignment, and applies advanced clinical skills
• Representative duties at this level include, but are not limited to: gathering diagnostic information, pulp vitality testing, charting of existing conditions, placing of rubber dam and matrices, selecting shades, placing retraction cord, placing and removing temporary restorations, fabricating temporary crowns and removing permanent cement from supragingival surfaces
• In addition, the expanded function assistant may place and remove surgical dressing, monitor nitrous oxide analgesia, and perform coronal polishing and the cleaning and polishing of removable prostheses.Additionally, the knowledge, skills and abilities at the GS-07 grade level are: Ability to perform dental assisting expanded functions
• Comprehensive working knowledge of advanced imaging techniques in order to provide instruction (e.g
• cone beam, cephalometric, advanced panoramic imaging, TMJ, etc)
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*) Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants
• Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments
• Ability to assist the Chief in Dental Clinic operations related to policy development, equipment requests and workload analysis
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative work relationships
• Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within section
• *Ability to perform supervisory functions such as assessing competency, providing performance appraisals and managing training
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include moderate lifting (15-44 lbs), heavy carrying (45 lbs and over), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, good distant vision in one eye, ability to hear whisper voice
• There is moderate walking (3-4 hrs.) and some extended periods of standing (3-4 hrs.).