Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)

About the Position: This position falls under The Defense Health Agency at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation. Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service. Student Loan repayment may be authorized. Non-Federal work experience may be creditable for leave purposes. 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, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement 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. In addition to meeting the above, applicants must also meet the following: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing chair-side dental assistance expanded function duties to include placing composite or amalgam filling, assist with temporary restoration, and performing administrative functions within a dental environment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service, (GS-05). OR Education: A half year (i.e., 9 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Dentistry. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR 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 the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 9. Add the two percentages. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Disinfect the dental treatment room in accordance with general dental infection control and safety procedures. Maintain patient records as relayed by the dentist. Assist chair-side in all phases of restorative, surgical, periodontal, prosthodontic, and endodontic treatment. Maintain cleanliness in materials and equipment, sterilize instruments, and dental stations. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.