1. VISION CARE

2. An optical assistant, or optometric assistant, is a person who aids an optometrist in both clinical and administrative duties. Individuals who desire to work in medical settings and have strong customer service skills may enjoy this career.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION FOR AN OPTICAL ASSISTANT Common duties of optical assistants include greeting patients, answering phones, handling and responding to correspondence, maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, assisting with vision tests and teaching patients how to use and care for contact lenses.

4. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION FOR OPTICAL ASSISTANTS There are no formal education requirements to become an optical assistant, most assistants have at least completed high school. Additional education, such as completion of an optical assisting program at a vocational school, technical school or community college, can provide greater job opportunities. Optical assisting programs can usually be completed in less than a year. Common courses in such programs may include anatomy and physiology of the eye, optical equipment and CPR.

5. CERTIFICATION FOR OPTICAL ASSISTANTS Optical assistants who possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and have worked for at least six months in the field can earn the Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) designation by passing the CPO written test.

6. Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA) designation, may be earned by passing the CPOA written exam. Individuals eligible to take the CPOA written exam include holders of the CPO designation with an additional six months of work experience, certain optometric assistants with at least five years of work experience and students who have completed or have almost completed an approved optometric assisting program.

7. EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for dispensing opticians, a related position to optical assistants, were expected to increase much-faster-than-average at 23% from 2012-2022.

8. SALARY FOR OPTICAL ASSISTANTS The average annual salary of dispensing opticians was $35,710 as of May 2013, per BLS reports. Norman and OKC, Ok. $42,229 Stillwater, Ok. $39,699 Amarillo, Tx. $39,241