Best institutions to study Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist
A program that prepares individuals to assist ophthalmologists and optometrists in examining and treating patients with vision problems, vision disorders, and eye diseases.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 172 Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1803, a specialization of Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.18), and leads most directly to the Ophthalmic Medical Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 29-2057).
About Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist programs
A program that prepares individuals to assist ophthalmologists and optometrists in examining and treating patients with vision problems, vision disorders, and eye diseases. Includes instruction in taking patient histories, administering directed treatments and topical medications, diagnostic test procedures and equipment operation, anatomical and functional ocular measurements, patient care and instruction, ophthalmic and surgical equipment maintenance, safety and sterilization procedures, and office administrative procedures.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist program prepares individuals to assist ophthalmologists and optometrists in examining and treating patients with various vision problems and eye diseases. This program is ideal for those interested in a healthcare career focused on eye care and patient support within the field of ophthalmology and optometry.
Students will gain essential skills in taking patient histories, conducting diagnostic tests, operating ophthalmic equipment, and understanding safety and sterilization procedures. Coursework also covers patient care, administration, and the maintenance of ophthalmic and surgical equipment.
Credentials awarded
What Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years66 graduates / yr · 7 institutions38%
- Associate's degree59 graduates / yr · 8 institutions34%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year47 graduates / yr · 5 institutions27%
Graduates over time
Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 203 |
| 2013 | 212 |
| 2014 | 238 |
| 2015 | 264 |
| 2016 | 295 |
| 2017 | 329 |
| 2018 | 243 |
| 2019 | 252 |
| 2020 | 205 |
| 2021 | 215 |
| 2022 | 196 |
| 2023 | 176 |
| 2024 | 148 |
| 2025 | 172 |
Top 19 institutions for Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 27 | 81% | — | — |
| 2 | The College of Health Care Professions - Fort Worth Fort Worth, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 70% | $27,961 | — |
| 3 | Canadian Valley Technology Center El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 71% | — | — |
| 4 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAssociate's | 13 | 17% | — | — |
| 5 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NCPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 31% | — | — |
| 6 | Portland Community College Portland, ORPublicAssociate's | 13 | 18% | — | — |
| 7 | College of Health Care Professions Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 75% | $30,518 | — |
| 8 | Triton College River Grove, ILPublicAssociate's | 11 | 29% | — | $34,697 |
| 9 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicAssociate's | 11 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Delgado Community College New Orleans, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 24% | — | — |
| 11 | Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TNPublicAssociate's | 6 | 28% | — | — |
| 12 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson, NCPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 45% | — | — |
| 13 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | — | — | — |
| 14 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 3 | 40% | $10,234 | — |
| 15 | GateWay Community College - Central City Phoenix, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 16 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 50% | — | — |
| 17 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FLPublicAssociate's | 1 | 41% | — | — |
| 18 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MNPublicAssociate's | 1 | 60% | — | — |
| 19 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 31% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions field (CIP 51.18) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 14 states & territories
Where Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist graduates come from. Each state links to all Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 2 | 42 | Tulsa Technology Center27 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 37 | The College of Health Care Professions - Fort Worth25 / yr |
| North Carolina | 2 | 18 | Central Piedmont Community College13 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 14 | University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences11 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 13 | Henry Ford College13 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 13 | Portland Community College13 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 11 | Triton College11 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 7 | Delgado Community College7 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 6 | Volunteer State Community College6 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 4 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science3 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | GateWay Community College - Central City3 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 2 | Lakeshore Technical College2 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | Palm Beach State College1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Cuyahoga Community College District1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2057, Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program often become Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, with a job outlook that is much faster than average. The field is expected to see 12,500 annual openings, with a median wage of $44,080. Typical education required includes a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.1803
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ophthalmic Medical Techniciansprimary SOC 29-2057 | $45,570 | +19.8% Much faster than average | ~12,500 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
Tools and technology used
Other Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.18).
- Opticianry/CIP 51.1801
Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician 407 graduates / yr23 institutions - Optometric Technician/CIP 51.1802
Assistant 196 graduates / yr14 institutions - Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 51.1899partial data34 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Orthoptics/CIP 51.1804
Orthoptist limited data2 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions programs →
Common questions
What is an Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist?+
An Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist assists eye care professionals in examining and treating patients with vision problems.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as patient history documentation, operating ophthalmic equipment, and conducting diagnostic tests.
What is the job outlook for this career?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with 12,500 annual openings expected.
What type of degree do I need for this career?+
Typically, a postsecondary nondegree award is required for this career.
What is the CIP code for Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist?+
Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist is CIP 51.1803 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions (CIP 51.18). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to assist ophthalmologists and optometrists in examining and treating patients with vision problems, vision disorders, and eye diseases. Includes instruction in taking patient histories, administering directed treatments and topical medications, diagnostic test procedures and equipment operation, anatomical and functional ocular measurements, patient care and instruction, ophthalmic and surgical equipment maintenance, safety and sterilization procedures, and office administrative procedures.
How many institutions offer Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states & territories, awarding 172 credentials in the year. That is 21.2% of all Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions graduates.
How much do Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Ophthalmic Medical Technicians occupation, which Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,570 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions field report median earnings of $34,697 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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