Is becoming an ophthalmic medical technician right for me?
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How to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician
To become an ophthalmic medical technician, individuals need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Additional education is required - completing a one- or two-year academic program as an ophthalmic technician, which can result in a certificate or degree. Certification can be obtained by meeting the requirements set by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, and passing the certified ophthalmic technician exam. Classes typically revolve around anatomy, physiology, ophthalmic optics, microbiology, ophthalmic pharmacology, and diseases of the eye.
Another way to become an ophthalmic medical technician is to gain employment as a ophthalmic assistant and advance to the technician position. In this way, the ophthalmic technician gets most of the training through the job, self study, and ophthalmologist mentoring.
Ophthalmic medical technicians have a lot of flexibility when it comes to their career growth. Many advance along the medical personnel path and can become office managers or ophthalmic medical technologists. Technologists have advanced training in many aspects ranging from advanced pharmacology to the study of ophthalmic lasers.