Medical Assistants in Ophthalmology
COA, COT, COMT, CCOA, ROUB, Surgical
Medical assistants can also specialize, e.g. for
ophthalmology or podiatry, and earn specialty credentials in
addition to general medical
assisting credentials. Clinical personnel that assist the
ophthalmologist may be called medical assistants, ophthalmic
assistants, ophthalmic medical personnel, allied health personnel,
technical personnel, ophthalmic technicians, or eye care
paraprofessionals. Certification is not a state requirement, but it
will show potential employers that you have certain skills and
knowledge. Certification also shows that you have professional
attitude and take pride in your work.
Currently, United States Bureau of Labor lists Ophthalmic
Assistants, Technicians, and Technologists under
Medical
Assistants in their occupational classification system, but
JCAHPO has recently requested a separate classification for them.
Ophthalmic Assistants, Technicians, and Technologists are highly
trained and specialized individuals working in ophthalmology.
Organizations
JCAHPO
Ophthalmology provides three different levels of certifications for
medical assistants: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA), Certified
Ophthalmic Technician (COT), and Certified Ophthalmic Technologist (COMT).
These ophthalmic medical assisting credentials are awarded by
the Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
JCAHPO certifies and recertifies ophthalmic medical personnel.
ATPO
Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO) is the
professional organization for ophthalmic medical personnel.
Membership in your professional organization shows that you are a
life-long learner and are committed to keeping your skills
up-to-date.
CoA-OMP
Ophthalmic medical assistants and technicians may be trained in
formal training programs approved by the Commission of Accreditation
of Ophthalmic Medical Programs (CoA-OMP) or receive comprehensive
on-the-job training. In 2005 CoA-OMP separated from the Commission
on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and
became a freestanding accreditor of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel
(OMP) programs.
Credentials for Ophthalmic Medical Assistants
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant - COA To sit for the COA credentialing exam, student must have
graduated from a CoA-OMP accredited Ophthalmic Assistant program or
have completed a COA-OMP approved independent study
course with 2,000 hours (about one year full-time work) of
ophthalmology work experience.
Certified Ophthalmic Technician
- COT
To sit for the COT credentialing exam, student must have graduated
from a CoA-OMP accredited program for Ophthalmic Technicians or have
worked at least 2,000 hours as a COA under ophthalmological
supervision while maintaining COA continuing education requirements
or be currently certified as an Orthoptist.
Certified
Ophthalmic Technologist - COMT
To sit for the COMT credentialing exam, student must have graduated
from a CoA-OMP accredited program for Ophthalmic Technologists or
worked at least 6,000 hours as a COT under ophthalmological
supervision while maintaining COT continuing education requirements.
Additional Credentials through
JCAHPO
Corporate Certified Ophthalmic Assistant -
CCOA
To sit for the exam, student must have completed a CoA-OMP approved
independent study course, completed 12 JCAHPO-approved Group A
continuing education credits, and be employed by a company that
supplies ophthalmology products and/or services.
Registered
Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist - ROUB
To sit for the exam, student must have graduated from a CoA-OMP
accredited program or have 2,000 - 4,000 hours of related work
experience.
Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting
To sit for the exam, student must have graduated from a CoA-OMP
accredited program or have 18 months of related work experience.
See
all the books
in the Basic Bookshelf for Eyecare Professionals
series. Many more great books for ophthalmic
assistants and technicians!
ASORN = American Society of Registered
Ophthalmic Nurses
AAO = American Academy of Ophthalmology
Other Careers in
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmologist - medical doctor
and surgeon trained in eye surgery and eye disease, Doctor of
Medicine degree (MD), diagnose and manage eye diseases, treat and
repair eye injuries, perform surgical procedures such as laser
surgery and lens replacement, 8-10 years of professional training
(medical school 4 yrs + internship 1 yr + residency 3 yrs + optional
fellowship in subspecialty 1-2 yrs)
Optometrist
- not a medical doctor, but has extensive training in optometry,
prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, in some states administer
and prescribe medications to help diagnose vision problems and treat
certain eye disease, usually BS and four years of optometry school,
Doctor of Optometry degree (OD), 4 years of professional training
(optometry school 4 yrs)
Note: DO (Doctor of
Osteopathy) is a medical degree, OD (Doctor of Optometry) is
not.
Optician -
dispenses eyeglasses and contact lenses based on prescriptions
supplied by ophthalmologists or optometrists, formal training (1-2
yrs) or
apprenticeship (2 yrs or more)
Ophthalmic Registered Nurse - RN's who have
passed the Certified Registered Nurse in Ophthalmology exam (CRNO)
Ophthalmic Photographer - many ophthalmic assistants and
technicians do ophthalmic photography, may hold the Certified
Retinal Angiographer credential (CRA)
Orthoptist - evaluate
and treat eye
muscle disorders, usually have BS and two years in orthoptist school
(CO)
Ocularist - fits patients with eye prostheses, usually
apprenticeship
Patient:
Doc, will I be able to read with these glasses? Doctor: You sure will. Patient: That's great! I never could read before.
See
also the Ophthalmology coding page.
See the Ophthalmology Books page
for more books (e.g. ophthalmic dictionaries).
See the Links page for additional ophthalmology
related links.
References:
ATPO http://www.atpo.org/
JCAHPO http://www.jcahpo.org/ (new URL 2008)
Note: Due to lack of time, this page was archived in 2008. It is not updated anymore.
him-coding.com
* Resources &
certification info for new
medical coders