Located in Hudson, South Carolina, the Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (CCC&TI) offers a one-year diploma program in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting (OMA). This program is designed for those who want to work under ophthalmologists, performing such duties as recording ophthalmic and medical histories, taking eye measurements, prescribing medication and maintaining ophthalmic equipment. The 34-credit OMA program at Caldwell includes courses in Ophthalmic Basic Care, Ophthoptics & Basic Refractometry and Ocular Anatomy & Physiology.
The Pima Medical Institute (PMI) campus in Denver, Colorado offers an associate degree for aspiring ophthalmic medical technicians. The degree program prepares students for creating products such as prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. PMI's ophthalmic program not only includes core courses, such as Ocular Disease and Ophthalmic Photography & Imaging, but general education classes in subject areas such as mathematics and psychology. The associate program is designed for completion within two years, with a 73.5-credit load.
Renton Technical College, located in the state of Washington, offers both a certificate and associate degree track. Program coursework includes First Aid/CPR and Safety, Advanced Ocular Pathophysiology and Ophthalmology Front Office Procedures. The associate degree includes general education courses such as Speech Communication and General Psychology for about a quarter of its 76-credit curriculum. These classes are also required of students who want to transfer from other community colleges.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is a state-run health science institution of higher learning. Its Department of Ophthalmology has a five-month Ophthalmic Medical Assistant certificate program with courses that include Basic Skills and Lensometry, Basic Tonometry & Glaucoma, Ophthalmic Patient Services & Education and Sterilization of Surgical Instruments. Admission requirements for the program include current employment in an ophthalmic practice for at least a year and a written recommendation from a licensed eye doctor.