How to hire a certified ophthalmic technician

How to hire a certified ophthalmic technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified ophthalmic technician 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 technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified ophthalmic technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The certified ophthalmic technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, certified ophthalmic technicians 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.

   This list presents certified ophthalmic technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Certified Ophthalmic Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Ophthalmic Technician		$14-29
   Technician	Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more	$11-27
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Ophthalmology
   • Color Vision
   • Visual Acuity
   • Visual Fields
   • Allergies
   • Family History
   • A-Scan
   • Exam Rooms
   • Lensometry
   • EHR
   • Tonopen
   • COA
   • Field Testing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assess patients and document medical history.
   • Have used the goldmann, tonopen and the Perkins hand hold tonometer.
   • Perform examinations and interviews with patients.
   • Obtain intraocular pressure by applanation tonomentry or tonopen.
   • Perform clinic work-ups/manifest refraction utilizing EMR, program and maintain laser equipment, clinical photography, and assist physicians during surgeries.
   • Comply with all HIPAA regulations regarding patient information.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified ophthalmic technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A certified ophthalmic technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, certified ophthalmic technicians' average salary in alabama is 40% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified ophthalmic technicians earn 52% less than senior-level certified ophthalmic technicians.
   • Certifications. A certified ophthalmic technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a certified ophthalmic technician's salary.

   Average certified ophthalmic technician salary

   $43,658yearly

   $20.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level certified ophthalmic technician salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a certified ophthalmic technician job description

   A good certified ophthalmic technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a certified ophthalmic technician job description:

   Certified ophthalmic technician job description example

   Technician
   
   Currently recruiting a Certified Ophthalmic Technician to work at the Ophthalmology Clinic on Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, California. This is a full-time position providing medical care for Active Duty military heroes, their family members, and retirees. The Certified Ophthalmic Technician position is full-time, Monday - Saturday, normally between the hours of 6:30AM - 6:30PM, with full benefits and including 17 days of paid vacation & sick leave, plus 10 paid federal holidays. The Certified Ophthalmic Technician will work no more than 80 hours every two weeks.
   
   DUTIES OF THE CERTIFIED OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIAN:
   
   + Provide a full range of duties to assist the optometrist/ophthalmologist as appropriate to the level of certification (i.e., COA, COT, or COMT).
   
   + Obtain patient histories, perform prescription verification, and maintain records.
   
   + Assist in testing patient vision. Test far and near acuity, peripheral vision, depth perception, and color perception.
   
   + Examine the eye using slit lamp for abnormalities or cornea, and anterior and posterior chambers.
   
   + Apply drops to anesthetize, dilate, or medicate eyes.
   
   + Test field of vision, including central and peripheral vision, for defects, and chart test results on graph paper.
   
   + Measure axial length of eye using ultrasound equipment.
   
   + Instruct patients concerning eye care and contact lens handling.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CERTIFIED OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIAN:
   
   + Possess a minimum of two years of experience in the preceding five years as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician OR a minimum of three years within the last four years as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant.
   
   + Have completed a certificate course as an ophthalmology or an optometric technician.
   
   + Possess and maintain current certification as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) OR Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) OR Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology or have completed a formal ophthalmic training program of the US Armed Forces.
   
   + Certification in the operation of the VISX Star S4 Excimer Laser.
   
   + Manufacturer certification to program the INTRALASE femtosecond laser for the creation of laser made LASIK flaps and one-year hands-on experience.
   
   + U.S. Citizen (for access to Government computer systems)
   
   + BLS
   
   COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
   
   + Competitive pay
   
   + 10 days paid time off per year plus 7 sick days per year
   
   + 10 paid Federal holidays
   
   + Health & Welfare allowance mostly covers the cost of health insurance, long and short-term disability, and life insurance
   
   + Dental and vision plans offered, 401(k)
   
   ABOUT THE ARORA GROUP
   
   The Arora Group is an award-winning, Joint Commission-certified nationwide healthcare services company that, for over 25 years, has provided medical care for the men and women who serve our country in the U.S. Armed Forces. Our mission is to provide world-class care and give our over healthcare professionals opportunities to improve their skills, learn from the best, and serve the needs of active duty servicemembers, their families, and veterans.
   
   EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability
   
   Job Details
   
   City
   
   Oceanside
   
   State
   
   CA

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right certified ophthalmic technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your certified ophthalmic technician job on Zippia to find and recruit certified ophthalmic technician 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

   Your first interview with certified ophthalmic technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect certified ophthalmic technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new certified ophthalmic technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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