How To Become An Optometric Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an optometric technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

An optometric technician assists optometrists in providing eye care services to patients. They measure visual acuity, conduct preliminary eye exams, administer diagnostic tests, and prepare patients for treatment. Optometric technicians may also assist with contact lens fittings, frame selection, and eyewear adjustments. They work with optometrists to provide high-quality patient care and maintain equipment. Optometric technicians must have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

ScoreOptometric TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,928

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.2

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.58%

Asian 5.85%

Black or African American 14.47%

Hispanic or Latino 12.28%

Unknown 4.68%

White 62.13%

Gender

female 85.30%

male 14.70%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.8

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an optometric technician?

Pros

Job stability and security with high demand for optometric technicians
Competitive salary and benefits packages
Flexibility in scheduling with part-time and full-time options available
Continuing education opportunities to stay up-to-date on new technology and techniques
Ability to build relationships with patients and make a positive impact on their lives

Cons

Repetitive tasks can lead to physical strain or injury
May require long hours standing or sitting in front of computer screens
Potential for evening or weekend work depending on office hours
Limited job opportunities in certain geographic areas
May require working in multiple locations or traveling between offices

Key steps to become an optometric technician

Explore optometric technician education requirements

Most common optometric technician degrees

Bachelor's

37.7 %

High School Diploma

22.6 %

Associate

22.5 %

Start to develop specific optometric technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	23.52%
Customer Service	10.00%
Patient Care	9.80%
Field Testing	7.53%
Excellent Organizational	7.50%

Complete relevant optometric technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New optometric technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an optometric technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real optometric technician resumes.

Gain additional optometric technician certifications

Optometric technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific optometric technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for optometric technicians include Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

More About Certifications

Research optometric technician duties and responsibilities

Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
Preform pre-test on patients, using auto refractor, NCT and OCT and fundus photos.
Identify, reference and apply insurance coverage and present financial policies and arrangements accurately to patients.
Perform and interpret OCT and HVF.

Prepare your optometric technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your optometric technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an optometric technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable optometric technician resume templates

Build a professional optometric technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your optometric technician resume.