Optometric technician vs certified ophthalmic assistant

The differences between optometric technicians and certified ophthalmic assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an optometric technician and a certified ophthalmic assistant. Additionally, a certified ophthalmic assistant has an average salary of $42,724, which is higher than the $30,928 average annual salary of an optometric technician.

The top three skills for an optometric technician include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a certified ophthalmic assistant are patients, patient care, and ophthalmology.

Optometric technician vs certified ophthalmic assistant overview

	Optometric Technician	Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
Yearly salary	$30,928	$42,724
Hourly rate	$14.87	$20.54
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	33,412	74,716
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	2	2

Optometric technician vs certified ophthalmic assistant salary

Optometric technicians and certified ophthalmic assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Optometric Technician	Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
Average salary	$30,928	$42,724
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $39,000	Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	Vancouver, WA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Horizon Laser Vision
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between optometric technician and certified ophthalmic assistant education

There are a few differences between an optometric technician and a certified ophthalmic assistant in terms of educational background:

	Optometric Technician	Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Biology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Optometric technician vs certified ophthalmic assistant demographics

Here are the differences between optometric technicians' and certified ophthalmic assistants' demographics:

	Optometric Technician	Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3%	Male, 10.5% Female, 89.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between optometric technician and certified ophthalmic assistant duties and responsibilities

Optometric technician example 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.
Measure eye pressure with Tonopen and tonometer.
Maintain accurate and organize patient records, including EHR.

Certified ophthalmic assistant example 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.

Optometric technician vs certified ophthalmic assistant skills

Common optometric technician skills

Patients, 24%
Customer Service, 10%
Patient Care, 10%
Field Testing, 8%
Excellent Organizational, 7%
Pre-test, 5%

Common certified ophthalmic assistant skills

Patients, 18%
Patient Care, 8%
Ophthalmology, 6%
COA, 5%
Triage, 4%
Visual Acuity, 4%

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Optometric Technician
Optometric Technician vs Certified Ophthalmic Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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