Overview
Other assisting workers in support of health services provide services and assistance to health care professionals and other health care staff. They are employed in hospitals, medical clinics, offices of health care professionals, nursing homes, optical retail stores and laboratories, and medical pathology laboratories.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Ophthalmic assistants
Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
Operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
Instruct patient on diagnostic test and record results
Assist ophthalmologists in minor office surgery
Administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists
Clean and maintain ophthalmic instruments and equipment
Perform various administrative duties.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$30,782
$42,752
$49,712
Usual Hours Worked Weekly: 32.8
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
Strong job outlook
British Columbia
1,331expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Ophthalmic assistants require completion of a six to twelve month ophthalmic assistants college program or a minimum of one year of on-the-job training under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, and completion of an approved ophthalmic assistant home study program.
Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.
Completion of secondary school and several months of on-the-job training are usually required for other assisting occupations in this unit group.
Additional information
Ophthalmic assistants may progress to ophthalmic technician positions with training and experience.
Certified Ophthalmic Assistants may also have additional specialty certification such as Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB) or Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS).
Certification requirements
Optional: The following certification are optional to practice as Ophthalmic assistants in B.C.
- Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology - Ophthalmic Assistants
Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology - Ophthalmic Assistants
To work as an ophthalmic assistant in B.C., you may need to be certified by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). Eligibility is met in one of three ways through education or work experience. You will also be required to write an exam prior to certification.
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No programs available in B.C.
There are currently no programs offered at public post-secondary institutions in BC that will qualify you for this career. Please see the International Council of Accreditation website for other options.