Summary The purpose of this position is to serve as a mid-level dental laboratory technician. The work requires a high degree of skill and precision, a working knowledge of the general contour of supporting tissues, and articulation of its application to the fabrication of restorations and/or appliances. High-quality work is expected, and will be evaluated by the dental laboratory technician of higher grade, supervisor, or the requesting dentist, but is expected to perform all duties independently. Responsibilities Duties include but not limited to:GS-07 Developmental Capacity - Performs a full range of conventional fixed and/or removable prosthodontic procedures for cases that do not involve significant oral abnormalities. Independently fabricates fixed or removable partial dentures and complete dentures using established designs, standard materials, and prescribed techniques, relying on the dentist's prescriptions and/or guidance from higher-graded technicians for complex or atypical cases. Work assignments typically involve conventional appliances in which tooth form, occlusion, and supporting structures fall within normal anatomical limits, and the incumbent seeks supervisory or higher-level technical assistance when design, fit, or esthetics present unusual problems. Plans and carries out the successive step and handles problems and deviations in work assignments in accordance with standard practices and written procedures. Unusual problems that develop are referred to the prescribing dentist and/or supervisor for assistance. Uses judgment in selecting and adapting techniques, procedures and materials most appropriate for the specific condition of each patient. Situations requiring deviation from the guidelines are referred to a higher graded technician and/or staff dentist. GS-08 - Incumbent uses dental laboratory materials such as impression materials, stones, waxes, acrylics as well as the use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, vacuum former, model trimmers, handpieces, and articulators. Receives and pours impressions with proper dental stone for study casts and master casts for complete and partial removable dentures including boxing and beading, trimming and mounting casts as needed. Receives and pours impressions with proper dental stone for crowns, fixed partial dentures, and implants. Incumbent will also be expected to pour casts and perform minor removable prosthesis repairs with assistance. Fabrications of prosthesis include stonework, articulation, setting of teeth, recontouring, actual fabrication, adjusting occlusion, and finishing for inserting into the patient's mouth. Incumbent uses dental laboratory materials and equipment noted above as well as the digital scanner, sandblaster, and pumice station. Fabricates both hard and soft dental splints as per laboratory prescription. Adjusts occlusion with hard splints and finishes and polishes for delivery. Involves the appropriate packaging of cases to avoid damage during shipping/transport. Ensure the lab cases are completed and returned from outside labs before the patient's appointment. The Dental Laboratory Technician has responsible for independently managing for managing the dental laboratory's inventory in a proactive and accountable manner. The Dental Laboratory Technician is responsible for maintaining a clean, orderly, and safe laboratory environment that supports high-quality patient care and compliance with infection control standards. The Dental Laboratory Technician communicates effectively and professionally with dentists, dental residents, and other members of the oral health care team to support safe, high-quality patient care. Other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Mon-Thurs 7:30am-5:00pm, Every other Fri 7:45am-4:15pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Dental Lab Technician/PD148130 and PD148140 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Most recent SF-50 for current or former Federal employee - noting your current position or most recently held position, tenure, @type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive), grade level and duty location. (Text version SF-50s or Request for Personnel Action SF-52s are not acceptable.) For current Federal employees, the SF-50 must be effective the first pay period of the current year or later. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/08/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. For a GS-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Dental Lab Technician Series, 0683 Individual Occupational Requirements: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, porcelain, and similar materials. Use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, and hand pieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, flasks, and related equipment. Use of precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers. Construction of dental prosthetic appliances. OR, Education and Training: Successful completion of a full 4-year apprenticeship program consisting of at least 2000 hours a year. The successful completion of training courses in dental laboratory work in the Armed Forces or other Federal agencies will be allowed appropriate credit for specialized experience on a month-for-month basis up through GS-5. Licensed professional dentists will be considered qualified for any grade level if they have, in the aggregate, the required experience in dental laboratory procedures. You may continue to qualify, after IOR qualification, based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: GS-07 - You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performs a full range of conventional fixed and/or removable prosthodontic procedures for cases that do not involve significant oral abnormalities. performs a full range of conventional fixed and/or removable prosthodontic procedures for cases that do not involve significant oral abnormalities. Independently fabricates fixed or removable partial dentures and complete dentures using established designs, standard materials, and prescribed techniques, relying on the dentist's prescriptions and/or guidance from higher-graded technicians for complex or atypical cases. Plans and carries out the successive step and handles problems and deviations in work assignments in accordance with standard practices and written procedures. uses judgment in selecting and adapting techniques, procedures and materials most appropriate for the specific condition of each patient. OR, Specialized Experience: GS-08 - You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Generally uses basic computer skills and is familiar with routine office software, computer record management systems, and digital scanning/CAD/CAM software, and may seek opportunities to develop or enhance skills as part of ongoing professional growth. Expected to function as an active member of the interdisciplinary team, collaborating with staff dentists, oral surgeons, and dental residents. Applies general knowledge of normal oral anatomy and dentition to the design, fabrication, function, and esthetics of the prosthesis being fabricated, using equipment such as dental laboratory handpieces, burnout ovens, porcelain ovens, casting machines, CAD/CAM scanners, bench lathes, electric and flame soldering machines, gas torches, vacuum spatulators, and precision model trimmers. Constructs acrylic crowns, bridges, or facings, when this involves (1) forming and carving a wax pattern of the size, contour, and characteristics required, (2) investing and boiling out the pattern, (3) mixing acrylic dough of the prescribed color shades, and ( 4) packing, curing, characterizing ( applying designated markings to simulate the appearance of the natural tooth), and finishing the case. Constructs stone, amalgam, or electroformed copper dies, or casts with removable dies, for use in fabricating crowns, inlays, or fixed partial dentures. Fabricates porcelain crowns, fixed partial dentures, or facings, when this involves (1) forming a platinum foil matrix over the die, (2) opaquing the platinum with a layer of porcelain to mask the silver color and form the base for building the porcelain tooth, and (3) firing the opaqued matrix in a porcelain furnace; or (1) making a wax pattern, (2) sprucing, investing and casting gold, (3) finishing the casting to permit the porcelain to be fused directly to the gold, and (4) opaquing and firing the opaqued gold. Fabricates acrylic or cast metal splints for the reduction or fixation of maxillary and mandibular fractures, or obturators to close an opening in the palate. The technician must use creativity, ingenuity and judgement to solve problems of fabrication and esthetics. The employee uses judgment in selecting and adapting techniques, procedures and materials most appropriate for the specific condition of each patient. The dental laboratory technician engages in pouring of impressions, trimming, and mounting casts, fabricating custom trays, base plates, and occlusal rims, blocking out master casts and prosthesis repairs, setting teeth in partials and complete dentures, scanning lab cases for transmitting to the lab and or in-house milling and carries out such assignments under the general supervision of the lab supervisor. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 Full year of Graduate education. Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7/8. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Bachelor's degree. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
