Optometric Technician

• Overview
• Admission
• Curriculum
• Transfer
• Outcomes
• Careers

Overview

Overview

An optometric technician works under the supervision of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. 

In the 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.

An important part of the curriculum is the clinical experience portion, in which you will work directly with doctors and patients.

Technical training includes:

• Patient pre-testing skills such as visual acuity, measuring eye pressure, muscle movement and pupillary assessment
• Operating ophthalmic equipment such as phoropters, ophthalmic imaging instruments, ultrasonography, visual field testing, tonometers and lensometers
• Assisting in ophthalmic surgery
• Ocular anatomy and physiology
• Ophthalmic terminology and pharmacology
• Frame and lens selection and eyeglass adjustments
• Contact lens patient education
• Visual training and practice management
• Equipment maintenance and repair

Please note that after acceptance to the Optometric Technician program, you will be required to complete a background check, provide documentation of current required-immunizations and current Healthcare Provider CPR certification. Further information about these requirements will be shared at program orientation.

Program Details

Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Health Education programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the School of Health Education Forms and Policies.

Students in the Optometric Technician program must attend full time. 

Classes are offered Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:20 p.m. 

Optometric Technician program classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses:

• Madison - Truax

Explore financial aid eligibility for this program. 

To Enroll:

1. Must be admitted to the Optometric Technician program; see Admission tab. 
2. Meet the Registration Requirements below to register for Optometric Technician program classes.  

Algebra

Students must demonstrate algebra competency in one of the following ways:

1. Test Scores: Minimum test score cannot be more than two years old:

• ACT Math 17+
• Accuplacer (Arithmetic) 76+
• Accuplacer Next Gen (Arithmetic) 250+

2. Courses: Madison College courses that satisfy this requirement are:

• Basic Algebra or higher
• Elementary Algebra with Apps (10834110) or higher
• College Math (10804107)
• Mathematical Reasoning (10804134) or higher
• Applied Math for Chemistry (77854756)

English

Students must demonstrate English competency in one of the following ways:

1. Test Scores: Minimum test score cannot be more than two years old:

• ACT English 17+
• Accuplacer Write 5+ and Sentence 86+
• Accuplacer Next Gen Writing 260+

2. Courses: Madison College courses that satisfy this requirement are:

• Written Communication (10801195) or higher
• English 1 (20801201) or higher
• Intro to College Writing (10831103)

3. A bachelor's degree or higher

Reading

Students must demonstrate reading competency in one of the following ways:

1. Test Scores: Minimum test score cannot be more than two years old:

• ACT Reading 19+
• Accuplacer Reading 80+
• Accuplacer Next Gen Reading 261+

2. Courses: Madison College courses that satisfy this requirement are:

• Written Communication (10801195) or higher
• English 1 (20801201) or higher
• College Reading Strategies (10808101) or Intro Reading & Study Skills (10838105)

3. A bachelor's degree or higher

Some of the courses for this program may be available online.

Optometric Technician

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVqJAd3U6CU

Admission

Admission

To Apply
 

• View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials and requirements.

In-person Program         Online Program

• Attend an Advising, Application, Information & More (AAIM) Session to get started in the admission process.
   
• Visit MATC to learn more about the Madison College experience including campus tours and program open houses.

After Acceptance 

Once you have been admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at MATC.

Questions?

Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or (608) 246-6210.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2020-2021 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

Current program students (including newly admitted), go directly to your Degree Progress Report (also referred to as an Advising Report or Academic Requirements) to view:

• Progress toward your specific requirements
• Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

If you have questions after reviewing your report, please see Advising Services.

First Semester

Optical Dispensing 1

31-516-325

3 credits

Ophthalmic Pre-Testing

31-516-301

3 credits

Basic Optical Concepts

31-516-305

3 credits

Ocular Anatomy

31-516-315

2 credits

Human Relations - Optometric Technician Program

31-516-339

1 credits

Second Semester

Optical Dispensing 2

31-516-326

2 credits

Contact Lenses

31-516-330

3 credits

Ophthalmic Specialty Testing

31-516-335

3 credits

Patient Relations/Pract Manage

31-516-340

2 credits

Preclinical

31-516-345

2 credits

Clinical Experience

31-516-350

3 credits

Transfer

Transfer Partnerships

There are currently no Transfer Partnerships for this program. Review our Transfer Opportunities page for information on all Madison College transfer options.

Outcomes

Outcomes

Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination.

After completing Optometric Technician program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be 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:

1. Provide relevant instruction to an optimal number of students each year in eye, vision, optical concepts, pretesting procedures, specialty testing procedures, contact lenses, optical dispensing and practice management.
2. Prepare students as life-long learners and problem-solvers who can respond to a continually changing eye care profession.
3. Utilize technology to deliver the program content to enhance the classroom experience for the students.
4. Utilize technology to deliver program content to people already employed in an eye care setting.
5. Maintain program accreditation with the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education and the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs.

Careers

Careers

Earning your technical diploma in the Optometric Technician program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for a range of professional positions in the optometric field, including:

• Optometric Technician - Assists an optometrist in the delivery of eye care. Duties may include: preliminary testing, contact lens instruction, fitting and dispensing of eyewear, front office management and patient education. 
• Ophthalmic Assistant - Assists an ophthalmologist in the delivery of eye care. Duties may include: preliminary testing procedures, refractometry, tonometry, assisting physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures including surgery, ophthalmic photography and patient education.
• Dispensing Technician - 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.