Dental Assistant – SCI Coal Township
Salary
$36,831.00 – $54,162.00 Annually
Location
Northumberland County, PA
Job Type
Non-Civil Service Permanent Full-time
Job Number
N-2026-58116
Department
Department of Corrections
Division
CR COA Med
Opening Date
09/09/2026
Closing Date
9/23/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code
33910
Position Number
00285688
Union
AFSCME
Bargaining Unit
N1
Pay Group
ST03
Bureau / Division Code
00112430
Bureau / Division
State Correctional Institution at Coal Township
Worksite Address
1 Kelley Drive
City
Coal Township, Pennsylvania
Zip Code
17866
Contact Name
Treina Brinkley
Contact Email
tbrinkley@pa.gov
THE POSITION
Are you looking for a role where you can support essential dental care in a unique and structured environment? As a Dental Assistant with the Department of Corrections (DOC), you will play an active part in supporting inmate care. Our facilities operate Monday through Friday during standard business hours, requiring no evening or weekend commitments. This role allows you to develop hands-on experience while helping dental staff deliver high-quality treatment. Our office is passionate about creating a positive experience for our patients. Apply today and take the next step in your dental career!
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
This role supports dental services within the Department of Corrections by assisting a Dentist with procedures, preparation, and patient care. The position helps maintain organized operations and ensures that tools, materials, and documentation are properly handled. As a Dental Assistant, you will perform the following duties:
- Chairside Support: Provide retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, and assist with tools during dental procedures
- Radiograph Handling: Expose radiographs, process them, mount and label images, and assess diagnostic quality
- Procedure Preparation: Prepare workspaces, sterilize tools, mix materials, and position patients for treatment
- Impression Work: Take impressions, pour and trim casts, and evaluate the quality of diagnostic models
- Record Management: File, retrieve, and maintain dental records in compliance with required standards
- Scheduling Tasks: Arrange appointments and maintain call lists for dental services
Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
- Full-time employment
- Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
- Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
- Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $36,831 (before taxes). However, a higher salary may be established in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
- This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
- You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
- One year of experience in a dental office or clinic; or
- Successful completion of an accredited Dental Assisting certificate program; or
- An equivalent combination of experience and training.
Special Requirements:
- This position requires the successful completion of the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam as required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry.
Additional Requirements:
- Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
- You must be able to perform essential job functions.
Legal Requirement:
- You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.
How to Apply:
- Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
- If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
- Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
- All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.
Veterans:
- Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
- 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.
The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
