Opthalmic Technician Program

According to the FSCJ website, the role of the Ophthalmic Technician is to “manage ocular diseases and optical measurements.” Technicians help doctors treat eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, as well as fit patients for contact lenses and glasses.

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) offers an Ophthalmic Technician Associate of Science degree, one of only 12 such programs in the nation. This program is accredited by the International Council of Accreditation for Allied Ophthalmic Education Programs (ICA). Recent high school graduates, career changers, and trailing spouses of military veterans have all taken advantage of this educational opportunity.

Eye care is a part of the healthcare industry and is very diversified. For example, 80 ophthalmologists practice in greater Jacksonville. They work in large group practices, institutional practices such as UF and Mayo, and in individual private practices that vary in size. Some practices specialize in a specific subspecialty– such as retina or pediatrics or glaucoma–and some are comprehensive or multi-specialty practices. Ophthalmic Techs can choose to specialize as well, in accordance with their interest and talent.

Currently, a shortage of Ophthalmic Technicians exists in Jacksonville. Cathy Titus, FSCJ Professor and Interim Program Director of Ophthalmic Technology, said, “Our program boasts a 100 percent job placement rate. Physicians frequently reach out to us, asking when the next group of graduates will be ready to work. “

As many ophthalmic skills are manual and require practice to master, the program offers work-based learning opportunities that are integrated into curriculum via clinicals. Students will spend 840 hours in an externship over the course of study. Clinical hours spent outside of the classroom increase as the student moves through the program. For example, clinical hours range from 120, 240, 480 hours as students complete corresponding semesters.

In 2019, the program had a certification exam pass rate of 75 percent with a 100 percent completion and 100 percent employment rate. If students do not pass the test, they are still hired, learn more skills on the job, and pass their test the next time they sit for the exam. The program can accommodate even more students who are looking for immediate job offers after program completion.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Levenson, the program’s Medical Director and owner of Levenson Eye Associates since 1988, “Everyone who graduates gets a job and has the opportunity to make it not just a job but a career.” Among the companies who have hired recent graduates are Florida Eye Specialists, Mayo Clinic and Levenson Eye Associates. Many techs advance to become office managers and clinical researchers, using their training and experience as a springboard.

One aspect of the program that allows students to demonstrate learning and directly impact the community is the partnership with Vision is Priceless, a Jacksonville charitable organization. According to their website, they help “assess, sustain, and improve the visual health of children and adults in Northeast Florida,” providing nearly 40,000 free vision screenings and nearly 1,400 eye exams to the underserved of our community. A clinic is set up onsite at FSCJ; students provide care to those who would otherwise be unable to receive it, supervised by volunteer doctors. According to Titus, “Students find great satisfaction in putting their learning to work in service to others.” In doing so, students use their skills to add value to their community in a distinctly helpful way.

Students find that graduating from the program meets and exceeds their expectations. Darian Jakubec from the Class of 2019 said, “After becoming a Certified Ophthalmic Technician my career really lifted off. I have the FSCJ Ophthalmic Technician Program to thank for providing me exactly what I was looking for, a firm foundation in a long-term career and passion for rewarding responsibilities that offer endless learning opportunities and experiences. Even after graduating, the program still provides me with guidance and chances to volunteer.”

To learn more about the Ophthalmic Technician program, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSbRAV931CE