Ophthalmic Scribe: A new (and fast) way to join the eyecare team
The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology has added Certified Ophthalmic Scribe (OSC) to their list of certification exams. What makes this certification unique is that the certification exam has no per-requisites, except that you must be currently working for an ophthalmologist. Eyetec.net now has an ophthalmic scribe exam prep course that will get you a certificate of completion, and you don't need to be working for an ophthalmologist to take the course. This course may be as valuable as the certification, because you have proof that you took a scribe course.
Read more: Ophthalmic Scribe: A new (and fast) way to join the eyecare team
How much money can I make as an ophthalmic technician?
How much money can I make as an ophthalmic technician? Of course this is basic information you want when considering a job or career as an ophthalmic technician.
Generally, an experienced ophthalmic technician can make from $30 to $45 an hour, in 2026 dollars. Keep reading to find out what factors affect the wide spread in this statement.
Read more: How much money can I make as an ophthalmic technician?
How to get to a higher salary
If you can make your doctor, clinic, or practice more income, then you are (likely) going to make more income. That is the salary bottom line. How can you personally make this happen? By increasing the efficiency of your work environment.
How to increase efficiency
In the 1947 Christmas movie “Miracle on 34th” Street” one of the subplots is the competition between two New York city department store giants, Macy’s and Gimbel’s.
Ophthalmic Medical Personnel Schools and Programs
Is school for you, or should you go with on-the-job-training. Explore your options.
Below are listed schools in the U.S. and Canada, ophthalmic assistant training programs, ophthalmic technician training programs, and ophthalmic technologist training programs.
Read more: Ophthalmic Medical Personnel Schools and Programs
Certification Exam Planner, Get Started
Not certified yet, or need to move up? Time to invest in you. Use our step-by-step certification planner.
This planner assumes that you are moving through the levels of certfication via the on-the-job training route.
To get started, click on the situation that appies to you:
Ophthalmic Assistant 12 Week Course for New Hires, Description
Ophthalmic Assistant 12 Week Course for New Hires
This is a great way to begin training new employees. This is a complete plan that will make your trainer's job much easier.
Read more: Ophthalmic Assistant 12 Week Course for New Hires, Description
The COT Exam Skill Evaluation
How do you pass that certified ophthalmic techncian (COT) skill exam?
Yahoo!! You passed the certified ophthalmic technician written exam! Whoops, that was a premature celebration. Now you have to pass the COT skill exam, the most feared part of the examination process. The seven skills tested are lensometry, visual fields, motility, keratometry, retinoscopy, refinement, and tonometry. You are tested via a crudely designed video game. The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology does you a favor by selling you (optional) interactive training sessions for each skill at $45 each (total $315) on their website. But, there is a cost effective alternative.
Basic Clinical Subjective Refraction Techniques for Ophthalmic Assistants and Technicians
Featured Video
Basic clinical subjective refraction techniques are presented by eyetec.net to guide the ophthalmic assistant or technician through initial sphere power determination, cylinder axis and power determination, and sphere power refinement using a plus or minus cylinder phoropter.
Read more: Basic Clinical Subjective Refraction Techniques for Ophthalmic Assistants and Technicians
Retinoscopy vs. Autorefractor
Video
Retinoscopy vs. Autorefractor: Which is better for determining a starting point for refraction?
Retinoscopy is compared with the autorefractor on four key points:
Which is easier to operate and to teach?
Which is more accurate?
Which is more time and cost efficient?
Which is more reliable in terms of needing repair and downtime?
Certified Retina Technician (CRT) - A new certification from JCAHPO
If you work for a retina specialist, you are eligible to take the CRT exam if you have at least 2 years of experience working with a retina specialist, no previous certification required. If you have a previous JCAHPO certification (e.g. COA, COT, COMT), you are eligible to take the CRT exam with as little as 6 months of experience working with a retina specialist.
Due to the content areas of the CRT exam, there is an exam prep course that offers you the opportunity to study one prep course and be able to take two certification exams with very little extra effort. More information here.