Ophthalmic Assistant
Quick Program Facts
- Institutional Award: 272 certificate hours
- Number of courses: 5
- Accreditation: International Council of Accreditation (ICA)
- Financial aid: Tuition Assistance
- Campus: Trinity River
- Certification: You can become eligible to apply for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA®) certification examination with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)
Information Sessions
Attending an information session is an application requirement.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Until we can schedule in-person sessions, review the presentation slides and contact us if you have any questions: Ophthalmic Assistant Information Session (PDF)Listen.
We will post future in-person session dates as soon as our campuses are open.
Questions?
Health Care Professions Advising
Advising Resource Hub
817-515-1484
TR.HealthCareAdvising@tccd.edu
Role of the Ophthalmic Assistant
Career Video
Watch There Is a Career in Sight for You! (link will open in a new window) from IJCAHPO to learn more about the daily work of ophthalmic assistants.
Program Description
Our program prepares you for entry-level work in an:
- Ophthalmology office
- Optometry office
- Optician
- Optical office setting
You will learn to:
- Test and measure eye function
- Fit and dispense contact lenses and eyeglasses
- Perform other office duties, such as:
- Appointment scheduling
- Third-party management
- Payroll
- Purchasing
- Billing/collections
Credentials in Detail
After successfully completing all required courses and 500 hours (within 12 months) of documented work hours related to ophthalmology, you will be eligible to apply for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA®) certification examination with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
Eligibility & Prerequisites
- High school diploma or GED.
- TSI-met or passing score on the Adult Basic Education (TABE) test, if applicable
Course List
Check course availability
Go to the Course Catalog under the Academics menu in MyTCCTrack and search for courses and course sections. Under the Advanced Search tab select the appropriate CE term. (Example: CE Qtr 3 2021 Mar-May)
Application Timeline
- Start of application process: May 17, 2021
- First class: September 15, 2021
How to Apply
- Attend an information session.
- Submit your certification of completion form.
- Gather the required supporting documents and scan them if applicable.
- Driver license or government-issued identification
- Original Social Security Card
- Test score(s), if applicable
- College transcript(s), official or unofficial, with a grade of "C" or higher to waive TSI/TABE
- Download, print, and fill out the application.
- We will post the application once a new session is scheduled.
- Email your completed application and supporting documents to TR.HealthCareAdvising@tccd.edu.
- Register for class.
- Once you have been accepted, you may register for Ophthalmic Assistant courses.
Additional Accommodations
If you need to request accommodations, please call us at 817-515-1484.
Explore Our Professional Development Course
Contact
Trinity River Campus
Health Care Professions Advising
Advising Resource Hub
817-515-1484
TR.HealthCareAdvising@tccd.edu
Advising by Appointment
Fall & Spring Hours: Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Summer Hours: Monday–Thursday: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Updated April 07, 2021