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This is dental assistant work performing facilitating tasks for higher level dental auxiliary personnel and dentists such as caring for, maintaining, and preparing dental materials and instruments. Employees in this class maintain records of dental treatment, set up dental appointments and assist dental auxiliary personnel and dentists who give dental treatments in a district health center or satellite facility.
Work is performed under the close supervision of a higher-level dental auxiliary or a professional dentist. Some physical effort is involved in the performance of duties.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The analyst responsible for reviewing applications and additional documentation for this job opportunity is
Nashe’ Colmon, M.S
Human Resource Professional
City of Philadelphia -Office of Human Resources
1401JFKBoulevard, Room 1530
Philadelphia, PA 19102
[t] 215-686-2351
For all other inquiries, please contact Customer Service at 215-686-0880 or email hrhelpdesk@phila.gov
ELIGIBLE LIST: OPEN-COMPETITIVE
Only an Open-Competitive eligible list will be established as a result of this examination. Permanent City employees will receive no promotional preference in this examination.
Candidates who pass the exam and are placed on the civil service list will be retained on the list for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years after the establishment of the Eligible List.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
Philadelphia residency is not required to submit an application; however Applicants must have established bona fide residency in the City of Philadelphia for one year prior to appointment.
PREFERENCE FOR PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTS
Candidates who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the civil service examination shall have priority over all other people receiving an identical test score.
To receive such preference, candidates must respond to the question regarding residence on this application. This response will be used to determine eligibility for preference for residents. Documentation of residence may be required if there is any question as to whether you meet the residency preference requirements.
If an applicant does not respond to the appropriate residence question, it will be assumed that the applicant does not qualify for residence preference. Eligibility for residence preference must be determined by the date of the test administration. No requests for residence preference will be granted after the test administration.INDEBTEDNESS NOTICE
As a condition of employment with the City, any person offered employment shall be required to certify that such person either is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the City; or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with the City. For so long as the person is employed by the City, the amount of the payment as set forth in the payment agreement (not to exceed, for any pay period, twenty percent (20%) of the person’s gross pay for such period, without the person’s consent) shall be withheld from each paycheck until such payment agreement is fully satisfied.
Such person shall also be required to certify as a condition of employment, that he or she is fully current on any and all debts, taxes, fees, judgments, claims, and other accounts and obligations due and owing to the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) or has voluntarily entered into a payment agreement with PGW.
Failure to enter into a payment agreement shall result in the cancellation of the appointment and removal from the certification. The name of the eligible candidate will be returned to the eligible list.PREFERENCE POINTS FOR CANDIDATES FOR OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAMS
Candidates who pass Open-Competitive exams may be eligible for additional points added to their final score. Preference Points may be claimed from the time of application until 30 days after the eligible list is established. The required documentation for the preference must be provided to receive the points.
U.S. VETERAN'S PREFERENCE
Ten points will be added to the scores of eligible veterans. You must be honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces. Attach a DD214, member 4, or NGB-22 to your application if you wish your eligibility to be reviewed. Spouses of disabled or deceased veterans may also be considered. Veteran’s Points may be claimed at any time before the list expires.
LEGACY PREFERENCE
Ten points will be added to the scores of the children or grandchildren of Philadelphia Firefighters or Police Officers who were killed or died in the line of duty.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PREFERENCE
Up to 5 points will be added to the score of any candidate who has:
- Successfully completed a term of volunteer service with Peace Corps, AmeriCorps NCCC (including FEMA Corps), or AmeriCorps VISTA are eligible for additional points
For the Peace Corps, such candidates will be awarded five (5) points for the completion of a two-year term of service or three (3) points for the completion of a one-year term of service.
- Successfully completed at least 450 hours of service with AmeriCorps State and National (including Teach for America).
Such candidates will have:
- 1 point added to their final score if they have completed 450 Hours of the above service.
- 2 points added to their final score if they have completed 675 Hours of the above service.
- 3 points added to their final score if they have completed 900 Hours of the above service.
- 5 points added to their final score if they have completed 1700 Hours of the above service.
PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PREFERENCE
Up to 5 points will be added to the score of candidates who have completed and graduated from a career technical education (CTE) program of the School District of Philadelphia within the last three years before the examination announcement date. If the 5 additional points from the CTE preference would rank a CTE graduate above a veteran, additional points shall be applied to the CTE candidate’s passing score to rank them directly below the veteran.
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION
Applicants will be evaluated and scored based upon their training and experience credentials. Applicants will not be asked to appear to take a scheduled examination.
Scores in the Training and Experience Evaluation will be based on documentation of education and experience provided by the candidate. To receive full credit for your education and experience, you should submit all relevant documentation including college transcripts, licenses, certifications, paid out of class documentation, etc. and provide a detailed description of your education, experience, and credentials.
An Eligible List will be established the week of 05/17/2026. Please note that this date may change.
TEST REVIEWIn accordance with Civil Service Regulation 9.091D, candidates may review their answer sheets and other test papers to determine if they have been scored correctly or if there has been an irregularity in the administration of the examination. Candidates will have 30 days after the results have been mailed to review their test and to file a written appeal. Call 215 686-0880 if you wish to schedule a test review.
Highschool/GED
The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests.
ANTICIPATED ELIGIBILITYCandidates who meet all eligibility requirements within 3 months of the application deadline will be admitted to this examination. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list but may not be hired or promoted until all requirements have been satisfied.
1. EDUCATION:
Education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth school grade.
AND
2. CERTIFICATION:
Possession of certification recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to perform dental radiologic procedures after passing the Radiologic Health and Safety (RHS) examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board
AND
3. EXPERIENCE:
Six months of experience preparing dental materials and instruments for dental treatment, which has included on-the-job training in assisting with dental tasks.
NOTE:
Successful completion of a post high school training program in dental assistant procedures and techniques may be substituted for required experience on a month for
month basis. Completion of 300 hours of chair-side experience as part of a training program may be substituted for the full experience requirement.
OR
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of certification by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’ to perform dental radiologic procedures after passing the Radiologic Health and Safety (RHS) examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board at the time of application.
TRANSCRIPT, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates MUST submit a copy of their official college or university transcript(s) indicating completion of the educational requirement and all required licenses, registrations or certifications at the time of application. Transcripts MUST indicate conference of the appropriate degree. Candidates with a degree from foreign colleges or universities must submit proof of degree as certified by a professional evaluation service.
Candidates MUST submit a copy of their license, registration or certification.
If you have ever submitted a paper transcript, license, registration or certification for any City of Philadelphia civil service examination, you must submit another document
Option 1 - Upload a paperless transcript, license, registration or certification – One time only!
You may upload documents into your account and attach a document with this application. Once the document is uploaded to your account, it may be attached to all future applications. Attaching your document will save you time and money if you apply for an examination in the future, and you will be assured that your transcript cannot be misplaced.
Your documents should be uploaded and attached to your application before it is submitted. They cannot be uploaded or added to your application electronically after your application has been submitted.
Option 2 – Submit a paper transcript, license, registration or certification – Separate document required for each application
If you submit a paper copy of a transcript, license, registration or certification, the document will be used for this application only. You will have to submit documents again whenever you apply for an examination in the future. Paper documents will not be retained and will not be returned to applicants.
Mailing address for paper transcript and other required materials
Nashe’ Colmon, M.S
Human Resource Professional
City of Philadelphia -Office of Human Resources
1401JFKBoulevard, Room 1530
Philadelphia, PA 19102
[t] 215-686-2351