Best institutions to study Orthoptics/Orthoptist
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of ophthalmologists, to analyze, evaluate, and treat specific disorders of vision, eye movement, and eye alignment in children and adults.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 2 Orthoptics/Orthoptist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1804, 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 Orthoptics/Orthoptist programs
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of ophthalmologists, to analyze, evaluate, and treat specific disorders of vision, eye movement, and eye alignment in children and adults. Includes instruction in eye anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, pharmacology, ophthalmic optics, diagnostic testing and measurement, orthoptic treatment therapy, systemic ocular diseases and disorders, principles of surgery, examination techniques, patient education, child psychology and development, learning disabilities, medical writing, and record-keeping.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Orthoptics/Orthoptist program prepares students to work under the supervision of ophthalmologists, focusing on the analysis, evaluation, and treatment of vision disorders, eye movement, and alignment issues in both children and adults. This program is ideal for individuals seeking a rewarding career in healthcare, specifically within the field of ophthalmic and optometric support services.
Students in this program gain essential knowledge in eye anatomy, neuroanatomy, and physiology, along with skills in diagnostic testing, orthoptic treatment therapy, and patient education. Coursework also covers systemic ocular diseases, examination techniques, and medical writing.
Credentials awarded
What Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions100%
Graduates over time
Orthoptics/Orthoptist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 60 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Top 2 institutions for Orthoptics/Orthoptist, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — |
| 2 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 85% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Orthoptics/Orthoptist 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 2 | 2 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2057, Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Orthoptics/Orthoptist 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 51.1804
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 Orthoptics/Orthoptist 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 Technician/CIP 51.1803
Technologist 172 graduates / yr19 institutions - Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 51.1899partial data34 graduates / yr4 institutions
See all Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions programs →
Common questions
What is orthoptics?+
Orthoptics is a field focused on diagnosing and treating vision disorders related to eye movement and alignment.
What qualifications do I need to enter this program?+
A postbaccalaureate certificate is awarded upon completion of the program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and patient education.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, with strong job growth and competitive wages.
What is the CIP code for Orthoptics/Orthoptist?+
Orthoptics/Orthoptist is CIP 51.1804 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, under the supervision of ophthalmologists, to analyze, evaluate, and treat specific disorders of vision, eye movement, and eye alignment in children and adults. Includes instruction in eye anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, pharmacology, ophthalmic optics, diagnostic testing and measurement, orthoptic treatment therapy, systemic ocular diseases and disorders, principles of surgery, examination techniques, patient education, child psychology and development, learning disabilities, medical writing, and record-keeping.
How many institutions offer Orthoptics/Orthoptist programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 2 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions graduates.
How much do Orthoptics/Orthoptist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Ophthalmic Medical Technicians occupation, which Orthoptics/Orthoptist most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,570 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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