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Ophthalmic Medical Technician Associate Degree Program
Program Type
Associate Degree
Delivery Method
On Campus
Course Length
Approximately
20 months
Program Objective
This associate degree program will give you the skills and knowledge needed to work as a professional entry-level ophthalmic medical technician. Courses address both the personal traits and professional skills that are required in this role, ranging from clinical duties such as performing preliminary vision and diagnostic testing in preparation for physician exams to the administrative side, including recording patient information in their medical record.
An ophthalmic medical technician assists ophthalmologists with patient care and performs eye-related clinical tasks. This role blends medicine and technology as technicians operate many different kinds of equipment vital to eye care.
The day-to-day responsibilities of ophthalmic medical technicians include preparing patients for eye exams, performing diagnostic procedures, assisting in both clinical and surgical settings, preparing patients for eye surgery and more.
Pima Medical Institute course instructors have years of industry experience. Through their knowledge and hands-on training, students will gain top confidence in documenting medical and ocular histories, instructing patients about medications, tests and procedures, collecting data for the correct diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and supporting physicians through data collection for ocular research studies.
Our Ophthalmic Medical Technician training program will prepare you for the national technicians certifying exam administered by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). Graduates may also pursue additional certification in ophthalmic photography, ultrasound, low vision and surgical assisting.
Careers as an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
What Are My Career Opportunities as an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
What Are My Career Opportunities as an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
This associate degree program will prepare graduates to apply their skills in a variety of environments, such as:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Multispecialty offices
- Private practices
- Refractive surgery centers
Job Outlook
Job Outlook
As a significant portion of the U.S. population continues to age, the demand for ophthalmology services will grow.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of ophthalmic medical technicians is projected to grow significantly from 2022 to 2032.
When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.
Clinical Externships
At Pima Medical Institute, most programs allow students to work in their field through clinical externships—a chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.
In addition to real-world experience, clinical externships offer students resume-worthy opportunities, letters of recommendation from supervisors, and sometimes job placement directly after graduation.
Program Outline
Learn more about the courses in this program.
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Semester I
Semester II
Semester III
Semester IV
Semester V
Interested In Starting This Program?
Find out more about our Admissions Requirements or view our How to Apply page.
Success Is Within Reach
We are truly invested in making sure our students succeed.
“I am a mother of five children and moving to the U.S., adapting to a new culture, learning to drive a car and not knowing anyone was difficult. But, everyone at Pima Medical was so helpful. When I first started my program, I was very shy and my accent was difficult to understand, but my instructors tutored me and my classmates accepted me. I became more and more confident each day and soon it felt like my second home. When COVID-19 hit, my government required me to go back home. I continued the OMT program virtually until I was able to return to the U.S. to complete my clinicals.”
Salma Al Harthi, Ophthalmic Medical Technician Graduate
Pima Medical Blog
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Ophthalmic medical technicians (OMTs)—work with an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) to provide patient care by performing eye-related clinical tasks such as instructing patients about medications, tests and procedures. But, more…
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Disclosures And Accreditations
State Licensure Determination Disclosure
The Ophthalmic Medical Technician program is offered via on-ground and hybrid delivery methods. The program is available to residents of Colorado and meets applicable licensure requirements in that state. While there may be online components, completion of this program requires on-ground attendance at the Denver campus and cannot be completed solely via distance education. Prospective students and enrolled students should understand that moving out of Colorado may adversely impact a student’s ability to complete the program. If a student is planning to relocate outside of Colorado he or she is required to discuss this with the Student Services Coordinator and/or Program Director.
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43 Pima Medical Institute has made a reasonable effort to determine graduate eligibility for licensure in all states for programs designed and advertised as leading to licensure. The document below lists Pima Medical Institute programs and states where the curriculum meets licensure requirements, states where the curriculum does not meet licensure requirements, and states in which Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the curriculum meets state licensure requirements. All consumers should be advised that due to the frequent changes to state statutes, rules, and regulations Pima Medical Institute cannot guarantee licensure based on the lists below.