How to hire a certified ophthalmic assistant

How to hire a certified ophthalmic assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified ophthalmic assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a certified ophthalmic assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified ophthalmic assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a certified ophthalmic assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A certified ophthalmic assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, certified ophthalmic assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of certified ophthalmic assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Certified Ophthalmic Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Ophthalmic Assistant		$13-29
   Optometric Technician	An optometric technician is responsible for performing administrative and clerical tasks to assist patients with their vision problems and needs. Optometric technicians work in the laboratory, constructing glasses and lenses according to the ophthalmologist's advice... Show more	$11-18
   Ophthalmic Technician	An ophthalmic technician specializes in providing eye care services to patients under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Among their responsibilities include conducting interviews, taking notes of the patients' symptoms, conducting eye examinations and tests, administering medication, and performing support tasks for ophthalmologists during procedures... Show more	$14-29

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Patient Care
   • Ophthalmology
   • COA
   • Triage
   • Visual Acuity
   • Exam Rooms
   • Color Vision
   • Visual Fields
   • Medical History
   • Pachymetry
   • JCAHPO
   • Field Testing
   • Diagnostic Tests

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform documentation and manage troubleshooting activities with the Compulink EHR software.
   • Check angles, Intraocular pressure by application and tonopen.
   • Screen patients in a general ophthalmology and optometry practice.
   • Perform contrast sensitivity, corneal topography, pachymetry, and Fundus photography.
   • Specialize in patient education to inform patients of their diagnosis, conditions and procedures and/or surgical interventions need.
   • Check IOP using an applanator or tonopen.

   More certified ophthalmic assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified ophthalmic assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A certified ophthalmic assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, certified ophthalmic assistants' average salary in alabama is 43% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified ophthalmic assistants 52% less than senior-level certified ophthalmic assistants.
   • Certifications. A certified ophthalmic assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a certified ophthalmic assistant's salary.

   Average certified ophthalmic assistant salary

   $42,724yearly

   $20.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level certified ophthalmic assistant salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average certified ophthalmic assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$50,342	$24
   2	California	$48,787	$23
   3	Minnesota	$46,513	$22
   4	Massachusetts	$46,316	$22
   5	Utah	$43,302	$21
   6	North Carolina	$43,287	$21
   7	Ohio	$43,245	$21
   8	Wisconsin	$42,883	$21
   9	New York	$39,239	$19
   10	Missouri	$38,996	$19
   11	Texas	$38,204	$18
   12	South Carolina	$37,980	$18
   13	Virginia	$36,211	$17

   Average certified ophthalmic assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Horizon Laser Vision	$62,175	$29.89	11
   2	Kaiser Permanente	$47,655	$22.91	83
   3	Sutter Health	$47,579	$22.87	45
   4	CHRISTUS Health	$47,539	$22.86	116
   5	PeaceHealth	$45,519	$21.88
   6	Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr.	$45,188	$21.73	5
   7	Virginia Mason Institute	$45,157	$21.71	5
   8	Children's Health Corporation	$45,152	$21.71
   9	Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc	$45,152	$21.71
   10	LifePoint Health	$44,887	$21.58	58
   11	University Of Minnesota Physicians	$44,872	$21.57	3
   12	Massachusetts Eye and Ear	$44,794	$21.54	3
   13	Medical University of South Carolina	$44,723	$21.50	2
   14	Holzer Health System	$44,450	$21.37
   15	Hospital Sisters Health System	$43,948	$21.13
   16	SSM Health	$43,112	$20.73	6
   17	Kelsey-Seybold Clinic	$43,037	$20.69	2
   18	Virginia Mason Medical Center	$42,925	$20.64
   19	Optum	$42,825	$20.59
   20	HealthPartners	$41,377	$19.89	2

4. Writing a certified ophthalmic assistant job description

   A certified ophthalmic assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a certified ophthalmic assistant job description:

   Certified ophthalmic assistant job description example

   We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Ophthalmic Assistant/Optometric Assistant Float! Service excellence is to be centered on patient care and patient relationships and is the responsibility of all employees. Teamwork is the norm and all employees will be held accountable to work as effective team members. The Certified Ophthalmic Assistant position will be working under the direction and supervision of the eye care provider. Accurate data gathering and accurate testing is expected. Clear and effective communication with team members and the provider is expected.
   
   At HealthPartners, you'll find a culture where we live our values of excellence, compassion, integrity and most importantly, partnership. By working together, we will improve health and well-being, create exceptional experiences for those we serve and make care and coverage more affordable.
   REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * High school graduate or equivalent.
   * Minimum of one year work experience in an eye care setting.
   * Ophthalmic assistant certification by Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCHAPO) or paraoptometric assistant certification by the American Optometric Association (AOA) or ready for ophthalmic assistant or paraoptometric assistant certification by JCHAPO or AOA.
   * If hired without certification, must register for and pass the JCHAPO ophthalmic assistant or AOA paraoptometric assistant certification test within 7 months of hire date.
   * Must be professional, punctual, dependable and possess good communication skills. Must be able to interact with patients and staff in a courteous and cooperative manner.
   * Proficiency with computers and keyboarding.
   
   PREFERRED QUALIFICATION:
   
   * Formal optometric assistant training from an accredited technical /vocational school.
   
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
   
   Must possess manual dexterity and good vision. Must be self-mobile.
   
   ACCOUNTABILITIES:
   
   * Room patients for the eye care provider which includes:
   * Record patient's presenting complaint/history, reconcile meds, document allergies.
   * Obtain visual acuity, check pupils, motility, cover test and confrontation fields.
   * Neutralize and record patient's eyeglass prescription.
   * Perform stereo testing and color vision testing as indicated.
   * Complete appropriate portion of the electronic medical record (EMR).
   * Perform visual field testing/OCT/intraocular pressure measurements/pachymetry/photography.
   * Triage patients - in clinic, on phone or inbox messages. Contact patients with test results. Arrange for consults and additional testing.
   * Clean and maintain all surgical and ophthalmic instruments and exam rooms.
   * Monitor and order supplies as needed.
   * Assist with patient education.
   * Set up and assist with minor surgery.
   * Administer oral and ocular medications as directed by eye care provider.
   * Provide contact lens training for insertion and removal/care of lenses.
   * Place contact lens orders and stock trial sets; track and verify contact lens orders.
   * Collect contact lens fees and contact lens service fees
   * Perform any other duties as may be deemed necessary.
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find certified ophthalmic assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any certified ophthalmic assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level certified ophthalmic assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your certified ophthalmic assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit certified ophthalmic assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit certified ophthalmic assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new certified ophthalmic assistant

   Once you've selected the best certified ophthalmic assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new certified ophthalmic assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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