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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/26/2025. 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-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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. Individual Occupational Requirements for Dental Laboratory Aid and Technician Series - 0683 You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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 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 GS-6 : Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: waxing full dentures - blocking out master casts - waxing metal frameworks - or finishing metal frameworks for partial dentures involving normal situations in the mouth. They will carry out these techniques under general supervision by the supervisory prosthodontist and higher-grade technicians. (This experience must be well documented in your resume.) GS-7 : Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: utilize dental terminology to effectively communicate with peers - supervisor - and dental providers; 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; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances.. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a one full year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a major field of study related to the work of the position which provided the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. (NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION MATERIALS. CONFERRAL OF DEGREE(S) EARNED SHOULD BE PRESENT ON TRANSCRIPT(S). UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) IS OK.). 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 bachelors degree as described in B above. [Note: To combine education and experience - first determine how much of the qualifying experience and education you have - as a percentage of what is required for each. Add the percentages together - and if the total is 100% or more - then the combined education and experience is qualifying for the position. EXAMPLE: To compute the percentage - divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond the first 18 semester hours (i.e. beyond the first year) by 18. Add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.] (NOTE: TRANSCRIPT(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION MATERIAL. CONFERRAL OF DEGREE(S) EARNED SHOULD BE PRESENT ON TRANSCRIPT(S). UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS OK). GS-8 : Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: utilize dental terminology to effectively communicate with peers - supervisor - and dental providers; 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; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Chemistry Clerical Compliance Inspection Customer Service Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing - walking - bending - lifting - and carrying of light-moderate dental items and supplies. The work requires above average agility and dexterity 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/.

Duties

• Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Pouring of crown and bridge impressions and fabrication of die models - investing cases to be cast in metal - utilizes investing techniques required for specific metals to be cast - place investment in high heat furnace and ensures no raised or thin spots in investment - estimates required amount of metal needed for investments
• Surveys master casts for partial dentures to implement design prescribed by the dentist
• Studies master cast to identify the undercuts and teeth to be used for retention of the denture and blocks out undesirable undercuts
• The technician considers the number and location of missing teeth - the arch - shape - and contour of remaining natural teeth - tissue formation - and other anatomic features - in designing those portions of the dental restoration not pre indicated by the dentist
• The technician will also be expected to continue to develop more advanced lab skills through working directly with professional and laboratory personnel
• This includes setting of denture teeth - waxing and investing of crowns and bridges - metal finishing - and CAD CAM scanning and milling technology
• 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: 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#: Dental Lab Technician/PD07692A 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