Ophthalmic Assistant Program

Ophthalmic Assisting is an allied health profession whose practitioners function as members of the health care team in an ophthalmology office, optometry office, optician or optical office setting.

No previous experience is required to enter this training course, but good math and reading skills are needed as well as a desire to assist patients with eyesight problems of varying degrees from vision checks to surgical emergencies. A high degree of attention to detail is necessary. You will also be meeting the general public, so a professional and compassionate personality will prove helpful.

What Ophthalmic Assistants Do

As an assistant, you will test and measure eye function to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Assistants may also fit and dispense contact lenses and eyeglasses. You may be required to concentrate in the management of the medical office. Your duties may include appointment scheduling, third-party management, payroll, purchasing, billing/collections, accounts payable, patient recall, etc.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program requires:

• Successful completion of the ACCUPLACER assessment.
• A completed program application submitted to the director, Tiffany Lopez-Hamilton, at tiffany.lopez-hamilton@tccd.edu. This application requires the students to pass a background check and complete all required immunizations before enrolling.  

All students are required to attend a Program Orientation Session that covers the expectations and details of the program prior to the start of the program.

Accreditation

The TCC Ophthalmic Assisting program is accredited through The Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs (CoA-OMP). Graduates from the program are eligible to sit for the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) Certified Ophthalmic Assistant® (COA®) exam upon completion of the TCC program. The TCC program does provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work as an ophthalmic assistant in the local industry without certification.

Contact

Trinity River Campus Continuing Education Services
817-515-1071

Updated April 6, 2012