Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

US Military Treatment Facilities under DHA; West Point (MS); On-site; USD 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, NY seeks a Dental Assistant (Expanded Functions) under a Direct Hire solicitation. This federal role requires completion of an accredited dental assistant program with radiology training and meeting radiology certification standards.

Applicants must document education and experience as described in the qualification section; federal salary negotiations may apply for those new to federal service.

Qualifications

• Specialized Experience: 1 year setting up or assisting with oral surgery procedures.
• Education: Completion of a full four-year dental assistant program including at least 24 semester hours in radiation physics/biology/health/safety, X-ray techniques, and related topics.
• Combination of Education and Experience: total % must be at least 100% to qualify.

Skills

Oral surgery assistance

X-ray operation

Impression taking

Education

4-year dental assistant program with radiology coursework

Tools

Radiology equipment

Job description

About the Position

This position is a Dental Assistant (Expanded Functions) position located at Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, New York.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation.

Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.

Who May Apply

US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, you will need to submit transcripts as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirements for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

• Education: Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed one-year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled. Examples of acceptable training are:
• (1) Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.
• (2) U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program.
• (3) Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.
• (4) Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled.

Note: You must attach proof of completing the educational requirement with your application package. Proof may include school transcripts, course completion certificates, etc.

Radiology Certification

• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (1) 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 (2) be certified as radiographers in their field. The following meet these requirements: (1) Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a Doctor of Medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes radiologic procedures to others. (2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence, as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

Qualifying Requirements

• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes setting up or assisting with oral surgery procedures, assisting in taking preliminary impressions, and operating dental X-ray equipment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).
• Education: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in a dental assistant or dental hygiene program that included at least 24 semester hours of courses in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; and film mounting.
• Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages.