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Ophthalmic Assistant – Credit Certificate

Program Handbook

Overview

The Ophthalmic Assistant Certificate prepares students to work as part of the healthcare team in the fields of ophthalmology and optometry. The program includes didactic, laboratory and clinical components designed to prepare students for entry as an ophthalmic assistant and to take the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) entry-level examination as administered by the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO). IJCAHPO maintains accreditation through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), that verifies programs meet the highest national voluntary standards for private certification. The certificate program curriculum was developed using content defined by the International Council of Accreditation (ICA).

Philosophy

Course goals and objectives are based on the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) and the Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO) standards and required knowledge and learning outcomes. The goal is to prepare competent professionals who can function in a rapidly changing healthcare environment as well as pass the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) exam.

Education is a continual process whereby learners develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes resulting in cognitive, affective, and psychological changes. The faculty facilitates the teaching/learning process through the sequential presentation of concepts, theories, and experimental activities within an environment that promotes mutual trust, critical thinking, and self-development.

Program Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the certificate program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate technical competence when performing ophthalmic procedures.
  2. Demonstrate responsible, ethical, and professional patient care.
  3. Employ components of effective communication.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to solve problems and think critically.

Progression

Once enrolled in the program students are required to:

  1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0
  2. Maintain a “C” grade or higher, in all courses of the Ophthalmic Assistant Program.

Any grade lower than a “C” is considered a failure. Students who fail or withdraw from an Ophthalmic Assistant course may repeat the course only one time. However, if students fail two Ophthalmic Assistant courses, the Program Lead reserves the right to dismiss students from the Ophthalmic Assistant program.

Requirements for Clinicals

Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.

Certificate Requirements

To complete the Ophthalmic Assistant Certificate students must fulfill all of the following:

Required Program Courses

Complete All of the Following Courses:

EYE 111Essentials of Ophthalmic Technology

2.5
EYE 112Ocular Terminology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases

4
EYE 118Ophthalmic Capstone II

2
EYE 120Ophthalmic Technology Application and Practice I

3.5
EYE 122Ophthalmic Technology Application and Practice II

1
EYE 130Ophthalmic Clinical Practicum I

1
EYE 132Ophthalmic Clinical Practicum II

3
Total Credit Hours:17

Sample Program of Study

Semester I

EYE 111Essentials of Ophthalmic Technology

2.5
EYE 112Ocular Terminology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases

4
EYE 120Ophthalmic Technology Application and Practice I

3.5
EYE 130Ophthalmic Clinical Practicum I

1

Semester II

EYE 118Ophthalmic Capstone II

2
EYE 122Ophthalmic Technology Application and Practice II

1
EYE 132Ophthalmic Clinical Practicum II

3