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Program Overview
If you are currently working in an eye care setting and are interested in learning more and preparing for the national Paraoptometric Technician certification written examination, you will want to consider the Madison College online Optometric Technician program.
You will need to secure a mentor (see Mentor Guidelines) to assist in and oversee some of the lab activities. The program is a four-semester part-time program. Upon completion, you will receive a One Year Technical diploma from Madison College.
The program can be completed entirely online, allowing you to maintain your full-time employment while taking courses.
An optometric technician works under the supervision of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. In the Online Optometric Technician program at Madison College, instructors train students to work in eye care, emphasizing the unique duties required of an optometric technician to provide quality vision care services to patients.
Technical Training includes:
- Patient pre-testing skills
- Contact lens patient education
- Ocular anatomy and physiology
- Optometric terminology
- Optical properties of light
- Visual training and practice management
- Frame and lens selection
- Eyeglass adjustment
For more information about the Online Optometric Technician program and the mentor/clinical preceptor role, please contact agray@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6557.
Program Details
The Online Optometric Technician program is available part time only.
Careers
As of October 2024, the website salary.com indicates the annual salary range for Certified Ophthalmic Assistants (COA) in the Madison area is $47,946 - $61,883 with the median salary at $54,478.
Earning your technical diploma in the Online Optometric Technician program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for a range of professional positions in the optometric field, including:
- Optometric Technician
- Ophthalmic Assistant: Assists an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the delivery of eye care. Duties may include: Preliminary testing procedures, dispensing of glasses and contact lenses and front office management.
- Dispensing Optician: Specializes in fitting and dispensing of eyewear; may be employed by an optometrist, ophthalmologist or own their own optical dispensary.
- Contact Lens Technician: Duties may include the ordering, verification and dispensing of contact lenses. The contact lens technician may also assist the doctor in chairside techniques of fitting contact lenses.
Flexible Learning Options
- Out-of-state students can complete the Optometric Technician Online program without paying out-of-state tuition.
MATC's Optometric Technician online program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Suite 301
St. Louis, MO 63141
accredit@theacoe.org
1.800.365.2219 -
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Online First SemesterOnline Second SemesterOnline Third SemesterOnline Fourth Semester -
Admission
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
If you are an international student and want to apply to Madison College, or transfer your F-1 student visa here, check program availability and then complete the International Admission Process.
Apply Now – Secure Your Spot!
This program has a limited number of seats available. We encourage early applications to secure your spot, but the program has not historically reached full capacity.
Application Dates
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 31, 2025
Spring 2026
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is January 15, 2026
Fall 2026
- Application available on September 15, 2025
- Application completion deadline is August 31, 2026
2025-2026 Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Current Employment
Applicants to the online Optometric Technician program must be employed by an eye care clinic so the Optometric Technician Mentor Form is required to verify employment. This ensures the student has access to equipment required for course completion as well as an eye care professional to serve as a laboratory mentor.
Fall 2026 Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
- High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED completion
- College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
- Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
During the course of the program, you must demonstrate the ability to perform these essential functions safely, reliably and efficiently within the scope of practice. If you need accommodations to help you perform these functions, contact our Disability Resource Services office.
Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses. See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the program.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Optometric Technician - Online career.
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Career Outcomes
Madison College Online Optometric Technician program graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination and are prepared to:
- Perform a variety of supportive optometric procedures.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors, ethics and appearance.
- Assist the optometrist in the care of patients.
- Assist patients with glasses and/or contact lenses.
- Perform business office procedures
Program Mission: to prepare certification-eligible technicians to work as members of the eye care team under the supervision of optometrists, ophthalmologists and other health care providers. To train individuals to assist in providing quality eye care to the patient.
Program Goals:
- Provide relevant instruction to an optimal number of students each year in eye, vision, optical concepts, pre-testing procedures, specialty testing procedures, contact lenses, optical dispensing and practice management.
- Prepare students as life-long learners and problem-solvers who can respond to a continually changing eye care profession.
- Utilize technology to deliver the program content to enhance the classroom experience for the students.
- Utilize technology to deliver program content to people already employed in an eye care setting.
- Maintain program accreditation with the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.