Best institutions to study Optometric Technician/Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to assist optometrists in providing patient care, administering examinations and treatments, and performing office administrative functions.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 196 Optometric Technician/Assistant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1802, 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 Optometric Technician/Assistant programs
A program that prepares individuals to assist optometrists in providing patient care, administering examinations and treatments, and performing office administrative functions. Includes instruction in applied anatomy and physiology of the eye, visual testing, patient communication, patient preparation, medications and administration, dispensing and fitting of eyeglasses and contact lenses, record-keeping, and office management skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Optometric Technician/Assistant program prepares individuals to assist optometrists in delivering patient care and managing office tasks. This program is ideal for those interested in a career in healthcare, specifically in the field of ophthalmic and optometric support services. Students will gain the skills necessary to contribute effectively in various healthcare settings focused on eye care.
Students will learn essential skills such as taking and documenting medical histories, conducting visual tests, operating ophthalmic equipment, and understanding the anatomy and physiology of the eye. Coursework emphasizes patient communication, record-keeping, and office management.
Credentials awarded
What Optometric Technician/Assistant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree109 graduates / yr · 6 institutions56%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years59 graduates / yr · 6 institutions30%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year28 graduates / yr · 4 institutions14%
Graduates over time
Optometric Technician/Assistant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 257 |
| 2013 | 250 |
| 2014 | 270 |
| 2015 | 271 |
| 2016 | 266 |
| 2017 | 213 |
| 2018 | 250 |
| 2019 | 230 |
| 2020 | 216 |
| 2021 | 187 |
| 2022 | 154 |
| 2023 | 155 |
| 2024 | 201 |
| 2025 | 196 |
Top 14 institutions for Optometric Technician/Assistant, 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 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 47 | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 2 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 28 | 30% | — | — |
| 3 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Mercedita, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 21 | 41% | $9,980 | — |
| 4 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 16 | 27% | — | — |
| 5 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 14 | 40% | $10,234 | — |
| 6 | Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 31% | — | — |
| 7 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo Arecibo, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 12 | 54% | $10,179 | — |
| 8 | Cape Coral Technical College Cape Coral, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 83% | — | — |
| 9 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 45% | — | $61,860 |
| 10 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 29% | — | — |
| 11 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 44% | — | — |
| 12 | Sacramento City College Sacramento, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 33% | — | — |
| 13 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 4 | 25% | — | — |
| 14 | St Philip's College San Antonio, TXPublicAssociate's | 2 | 28% | — | — |
* 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 9 states & territories
Where Optometric Technician/Assistant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 4 | 94 | NUC University47 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 46 | San Jacinto Community College28 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 12 | Raritan Valley Community College12 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 12 | Cape Coral Technical College12 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 8 | Durham Technical Community College8 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 8 | Madison Area Technical College8 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 7 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College7 / yr |
| California | 1 | 5 | Sacramento City College5 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 4 | College of DuPage4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2057, Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Optometric Technician/Assistant program can pursue careers as Ophthalmic Medical Technicians. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 19.8% and approximately 12,500 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $44,080, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.1802
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 Optometric Technician/Assistant 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 - Ophthalmic Technician/CIP 51.1803
Technologist 172 graduates / yr19 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 Optometric Technician/Assistant?+
An Optometric Technician/Assistant assists optometrists in patient care, examinations, and administrative tasks.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills in patient communication, visual testing, and operating ophthalmic equipment.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 19.8% and many openings each year.
What educational credentials can I earn?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What is the CIP code for Optometric Technician/Assistant?+
Optometric Technician/Assistant is CIP 51.1802 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 optometrists in providing patient care, administering examinations and treatments, and performing office administrative functions. Includes instruction in applied anatomy and physiology of the eye, visual testing, patient communication, patient preparation, medications and administration, dispensing and fitting of eyeglasses and contact lenses, record-keeping, and office management skills.
How many institutions offer Optometric Technician/Assistant programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported Optometric Technician/Assistant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states & territories, awarding 196 credentials in the year. That is 24.2% of all Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions graduates.
How much do Optometric Technician/Assistant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Ophthalmic Medical Technicians occupation, which Optometric Technician/Assistant 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 $61,860 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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