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Ophthalmic Technician Careers: Job Duties, Education & Certification

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By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: July 9, 2026

Home » Specialties » Ophthalmic Technician

Key Takeaways

  • Ophthalmic technicians support ophthalmologists by obtaining medical histories and measuring eye pressure.
  • Education requirements include a GED and completion of a CAAHEP-accredited OT program or a relevant associate degree.
  • Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.

Ophthalmic Technician Facts and Figures

  • What you’ll do: Once you become an ophthalmic technician, you’ll work right along side an ophthalmologist as they help patients with eye disorders, vision measurements for glasses, eye muscle exercises and the prevention of blindness. You’ll also obtain medical histories from patients, administer diagnostic tests, provide contact lens instruction, administer eye medicine, and maintain optical instruments.
  • Where you’ll work: Ophthalmic technicians and ophthalmic technologists work in ophthalmologists’ offices.
  • Degree you’ll need: Associate degree plus one-year certificate or diploma
  • Median annual salary: $44,080

What Is an Ophthalmic Technician?

An ophthalmic technician plays a crucial role in supporting ophthalmologists. They assist in various tasks such as obtaining medical histories, measuring eye pressure and visual acuity, operating specialized equipment, and educating patients on topics like proper administration of eye medications.

Ophthalmic Technologist Job Description

As an ophthalmic technologist, you perform all duties performed by opticians and optometric technicians, but you have more training and expanded responsibilities. Your additional responsibilities may include the following:

  • Assisting the ophthalmologist in surgery
  • Performing ophthalmic clinical photography and fluorescence angiography, as well as electrophysiological and microbiological procedures
  • Supervising other ophthalmic staff

Ophthalmic Technician and Technologist Education

In addition to having your GED or high school diploma, you need to complete a CAAHEP-accredited OT program, usually a 1-year certificate or diploma for assistants and technicians or a 2-year associate degree for technologists.

Coursework for Ophthalmic Techs

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Ophthalmic optics
  • Medical terminology
  • Microbiology
  • Medical laws and ethics
  • Ophthalmic pharmacology and toxicology
  • Psychology
  • Ocular motility
  • Ocular anatomy and physiology
  • Diseases of the eye

You’ll also gain plenty of hands-on clinical experience.

Ophthalmic Technician and Technologist Certification

Certification regulations vary from state-to-state, however many employers consider it a requirement for employment. The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) offers national certification and testing for OTs on three different levels, plus subspecialty certification:

  • Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) – entry level
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) – intermediate level
  • Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) – advanced level

The subspecialty of ophthalmic surgical assisting requires certification in one of the three core levels.

Ophthalmic Tech Salaries

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 data reports median annual salaries for ophthalmic medical techs and ophthalmic lab techs. Take a look at the median annual wage for these two fields.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

National data

Median Salary: $44,080

Projected job growth: 19.8%

10th Percentile: $34,210

25th Percentile: $37,100

75th Percentile: $49,730

90th Percentile: $60,810

Projected job growth: 19.8%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $36,260 $29,070 $47,150
Alaska $46,780 $40,720 $65,970
Arizona $41,790 $37,040 $53,040
Arkansas $36,160 $28,950 $47,500
California $47,940 $36,430 $82,710
Colorado $44,820 $38,580 $63,480
Connecticut $48,520 $40,730 $63,060
Delaware $41,730 $32,460 $52,380
District of Columbia $45,860 $35,890 $62,190
Florida $45,300 $35,780 $60,130
Georgia $37,900 $29,310 $59,210
Hawaii $46,850 $35,920 $62,400
Idaho $38,830 $28,590 $52,700
Illinois $44,790 $34,470 $58,450
Indiana $43,200 $33,010 $56,830
Iowa $44,160 $35,590 $56,830
Kansas $38,750 $33,780 $56,440
Kentucky $38,740 $29,080 $50,070
Louisiana $39,100 $30,140 $51,230
Maine $45,640 $37,870 $51,240
Maryland $47,490 $38,070 $63,150
Massachusetts $47,450 $37,090 $67,710
Michigan $45,070 $35,280 $53,690
Minnesota $60,810 $32,050 $76,430
Mississippi $35,960 $28,410 $49,330
Missouri $36,600 $27,040 $47,400
Montana $47,110 $36,040 $61,920
Nebraska $44,600 $36,090 $53,080
Nevada $37,630 $30,710 $48,980
New Hampshire $47,240 $38,810 $67,020
New Jersey $47,460 $35,820 $62,610
New Mexico $37,510 $29,770 $58,960
New York $46,910 $35,910 $63,750
North Carolina $40,990 $34,970 $60,800
North Dakota $44,970 $38,060 $49,930
Ohio $40,000 $34,940 $55,060
Oklahoma $35,800 $30,500 $46,600
Oregon $48,730 $39,670 $66,750
Pennsylvania $44,620 $35,120 $56,380
Rhode Island $46,090 $38,550 $58,670
South Carolina $38,840 $31,420 $50,570
South Dakota $38,760 $35,540 $52,690
Tennessee $38,720 $31,370 $56,460
Texas $38,770 $30,640 $53,940
Utah $36,000 $28,890 $49,470
Vermont $49,080 $45,530 $65,520
Virginia $41,600 $35,670 $58,200
Washington $48,960 $39,040 $73,950
West Virginia $41,600 $31,580 $47,600
Wisconsin $50,660 $38,840 $64,290
Wyoming $31,720 $30,020 $47,160

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

National data

Median Salary: $38,420

Projected job growth: 2.3%

10th Percentile: $31,250

25th Percentile: $35,580

75th Percentile: $45,410

90th Percentile: $55,480

Projected job growth: 2.3%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $34,820 $25,700 $51,960
Arizona $43,090 $34,240 $50,730
Arkansas $38,090 $29,380 $47,620
California $49,430 $38,040 $77,450
Colorado $46,320 $36,910 $57,930
Connecticut $60,700 $47,800 $126,460
Florida $36,450 $31,290 $46,770
Georgia $44,000 $33,030 $56,070
Idaho $50,880 $36,240 $70,570
Illinois $37,170 $31,260 $49,130
Indiana $38,280 $30,470 $56,950
Iowa $33,770 $29,370 $50,960
Kansas $34,700 $30,500 $42,780
Kentucky $35,500 $29,780 $45,670
Louisiana $36,360 $30,030 $49,020
Maryland $45,620 $38,030 $58,510
Massachusetts $42,770 $36,400 $55,480
Michigan $47,280 $36,550 $47,860
Minnesota $40,500 $32,960 $49,270
Mississippi $28,930 $25,290 $39,110
Missouri $37,480 $32,840 $60,410
Montana $38,690 $35,650 $43,180
Nebraska $40,670 $39,320 $47,400
Nevada $38,690 $32,960 $49,460
New Hampshire $44,450 $34,810 $71,680
New Jersey $34,680 $31,470 $41,200
New Mexico $37,180 $29,240 $45,630
New York $37,030 $32,090 $49,450
North Carolina $36,120 $29,790 $58,920
Ohio $42,760 $35,140 $52,310
Oklahoma $35,940 $31,760 $54,350
Oregon $45,580 $36,730 $58,910
Pennsylvania $37,940 $30,500 $52,540
South Carolina $38,570 $27,530 $70,660
Tennessee $36,610 $31,830 $64,480
Texas $37,350 $30,490 $43,300
Virginia $38,080 $32,580 $59,630
Washington $47,860 $40,030 $62,900
Wisconsin $44,370 $35,940 $57,140

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.