RDA/DENTAL ASSISTANCE

At the Indian Health Service, Dental Assistants do more than support oral care. Guided by our mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will help deliver safe and effective dental services while creating healthy smiles, restoring confidence, and promoting overall wellness in the communities we serve.

Assist the dentist in all phases of restorative and surgical procedures.

Expose and process dental radiographs following radiation-safety protocols.

Educate patients on oral hygiene and post-treatment care.

Support dental clinic operations, maintain supplies, and manage patient records.

Dental Assistant Total Compensation

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Financial Suitability Requirement

This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

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., religious; spiritual; community; You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially, they must (l) 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. 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.

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.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience in dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position being filled.

Education And Training

For GS-3: Successful completion of (a) a 1-year dental assistant program or completion of l year of a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included a course in radiation physics; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; and film mounting; or (b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State, territory, or District of Columbia accrediting body.

For GS-4: Successful completion of a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as those shown above for GS-3.

Yourresume must demonstrate at least 3-months of general experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or a familiarity with customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties; OR, high school graduate or equivalent.

GS-03: Your resume must demonstrate at least 6-months of general experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or a familiarity with customer service, record-keeping, and clinic maintenance duties; OR, Successfully completed (a) 1 year dental assistant program or completed 1 year of a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included a course in radiation physics; radiation health, safety and protection; x-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; and film mounting; or (b) practical nurse training approved by the appropriate State or District of Columbia accrediting body; Qualifying specialized experience is work providing dental assistance to general or specialized dentistry, dental assistant (expanded function) work, or any combination of these appropriate to the position(s) being filled. Specialized experience includes: includes providing chairside assistance, setting up proper instruments for dental procedures, recording treatments rendered, and exposing and processing digital oral x-rays; OR, Successfully completed a 2-year dental assistant program or completion of a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that included at least 12 semester hours of courses such as radiation physics; radiation health, safety and protection; x-ray films and radiographic film quality, radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques, and film mounting; If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:

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. This position may or may not be covered by a bargaining unit, depending on the duty location. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions.

How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role?

How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?

You will be asked to certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot).

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.