Summary The Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS) is a Level 1b facility and ranks among a complex system in the VA serving the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21). The VANCHCS offers a full range of comprehensive health care services including Dentistry, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Imaging, Medicine Services, Mental Health Services, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Primary Care, Radiation Oncology, Rehabilitation Services, Specialty Services, and Surgery. Responsibilities Senior Expanded Function Higher Level duties: Monitors, manages and responds to post-surgical bleeding. Takes final impressions for a variety of basic and specialty procedures. Preforms supragingival scaling. Applies pit and fissure sealants. Places liners and bases. Places and finishes permanent restorative materials ( amalgam, composites, glass ionomer), including carving and curing. Adjusts dentures. Performs tasks as defined by state credentialing boards. Performs other duties as assigned. Other Function Duties: Performs mouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity. Gathers diagnostic information. Performs pulp vitality testing. Charts existing restoration and conditions. Selects shades for fixed and removable prostheses. Places and removes rubber dams and matrix bands. Places and removes retraction cord. Places and removes intracoronal temporary restoration. Removes temporary crown/bridge and cleans tooth preparation of debris. Fabricates, adjusts and cements temporary crowns. Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces. Removes sutures. Places and removes surgical dressings. Performs coronal polishing of teeth. Removes hard accretions from and polishes removable prostheses. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Tour of duty subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Senior Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-8 Senior Clinical Expanded Function Dental Assistant Experience: At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities a. Competency in expanded functions to include placement and finishing of permanent restorative materials such as amalgam and/or composite; or recording of final impressions. b. Comprehensive and thorough knowledge of all aspects of dental imaging. Assignment: Representative duties at this level include, but are not limited to: supragingival scaling; placing pit and fissure sealants; placing and finishing permanent restorative materials such as amalgam, glass ionomer or composite resin; making final impressions and adjusting dentures, applying pit and fissure sealants, placing liners and bases, carving amalgams, placing, curing and finishes composite resin restorations. Responsible for the imaging quality control program, troubleshooting and appropriate referral of identified imaging issues. Participates in developing equipment requests and justifications based on workload analysis. Specialty functions may include Preferred Experience: 1 year EFDA experience preferred. DANB Certified Dental Assistant certification required. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation [(CODA)]. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
