About the Profession
Ophthalmic assistants work alongside ophthalmologists to assist with patient evaluations and medical treatments. They work in various settings such as medical centers, hospitals, private practice, and university clinics.
Ophthalmic assistants have a variety of duties:
- scheduling patients
- taking health histories
- testing vision
- performing refractions
- measuring eye pressure
- performing imaging and diagnostic exams
- managing medical records
- educating patients
About the Program
Earn while you learn! Not only will VUMC cover the cost of your tuition, you will receive an hourly wage throughout the program with the expectation that upon program completion, you commit to an available full-time position at VUMC as an ophthalmic assistant and continue in that role for 1 year. Trainees must also pass the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Exam no later than 120 days after graduation.
The Vanderbilt Ophthalmic Assistant Program combines coursework with clinical training. Trainees take courses in medical terminology, ocular anatomy, physiology, and ophthalmic clinical exam techniques and procedures. Graduates will be prepared to take the national Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Exam offered by the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO). Clinical training occurs at Vanderbilt Eye Institute (VEI) clinics under the supervision of clinical preceptors.
Watch our brief video to learn more!
Program Structure
The program is 38 weeks (9 months) in length and includes:
- 38 weeks (128 hours) of didactic coursework
- 32 weeks of clinical training at various VEI clinical departments
- exam preparation certification
- access to online EyeCare CE courses
The program provides extensive mentoring by VEI clinical staff.
Admission Requirements
Minimum requirements:
- 18 years of age or older
- high school diploma or GED
The application window for the next cohort will be posted on this webpage once finalized. Applications are accepted through VUMC Human Resources. When the application window opens, please check the job search page for opportunities here.
Contact Us
Homise W. Johnson, COMT
Program Director
Email: homise.w.johnson@vumc.org