Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
An Overview of the Optical Field
Michael R. Jensen, ABOC, NCLEC
THE THREE O’S
Ophthalmologists
Optometrists
Opticians
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye.[1] An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems. Since ophthalmologists perform operations on eyes, they are both surgicaland medical specialists. A multitude of diseases and conditions can be diagnosed from the eye.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmology
Ophthalmologists
• Bachelor’s Degree – 4 years
• Medical School – 4 more years
• Internship - 1 year
• Residency program for 3 – 4 years
– The average annual salary for physicians and surgeons, including Ophthalmologists, was $184,820 in May 2012, per BLS statistics.
http://education-portal.com/
Optometrists
Optometry is a healthcare profession concerned with the eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optometry
Optometrists
• Bachelor’s Degree – 4 years
• Doctor of Optometry Program– 4 more years
• Residency program for 1 year– The median annual wage of optometrists was
$94,990 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $49,630, and the top 10 percent earned $166,400 or more.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm#tab-5
Certified Optician
An optician, or dispensing optician, is a technical practitioner who designs, fits and dispenses corrective lenses for the correction of a person's vision. Opticians determine the specifications of various ophthalmic appliances that will give the necessary correction to a person's eyesight.
Corrective ophthalmic appliances may be contact lenses, spectacles lenses, low vision aids or ophthalmic prosthetics to those who are partially sighted. The appliances are mounted either on the eye as contact lenses or mounted in a frame or holder in front of the eye as spectacles or as a monocle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optician
Certified Optician
• High School or Equivalent for ABOC• Successfully pass National Opticianry
Competency Exam• Twenty-three states require opticians to be
licensed.• The median annual wage of opticians was
$32,940 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,070, and the top 10 percent earned more than $50,780
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/opticians-dispensing.htm#tab-5
Why a Certified Optician ?
ABO-NCLE certification demonstrates to the public and the industry that an ophthalmic professional is qualified and competent. It proves that this person takes pride in their profession and in maintaining up-to-date skills and knowledge. In particular, it identifies to the public that this professional is a dispenser who will handle your eye wear needs with competence – someone who can be trusted to provide the quality care you want and deserve.
http://www.abo-ncle.org/
Why a Certified Optician ?
• There are several ways that certification will benefit you and your career. Most of them fall under four main topics: public recognition; employment opportunities and increased earning power; job mobility; and the potential role of certification under managed care.
Why a Certified Optician ?
• Public recognition. ABO and NCLE certification demonstrates to the public, your co-workers, and the industry that you are qualified and competent. It proves you take pride in your profession and in maintaining up-to-date skills and knowledge. In particular, it identifies you to the public as a dispenser who will handle their eye wear needs with competence – someone who can be trusted to provide the quality care they want and deserve.
Why a Certified Optician ?
• Employment opportunities and increased earning power. Certification is recognized by employers as a standard of competence, and it can offer tangible rewards such as increased earning power and job opportunities.
Why a Certified Optician ?
• According to the responding employers in a recent survey:
• 28% required certification of their employees• 75% gave preference in hiring to certified applicants• 75% paid higher beginning salaries to certified
personnel• 40% gave preference for promotions to ABO or NCLE
certified employees• After 10 years in dispensing, certified employees earn
approximately $6,000 more per year than noncertified employees.
Why a Certified Optician ?
• Job mobility. ABO and NCLE certification is a national standard, not a state license and is recognized in every state and many foreign countries. In non-licensing states, certification is especially important; it is your only credential – your professional distinction. It's also interesting to note that:
• 90% of state licensing boards use the ABO and NCLE exams as the basis for state licensing
• 23% of licensing states require current ABO/NCLE certification for move-ins who apply for licensing
Why Be Certified?
• Potential role of certification in future health care systems. No one ever knows for sure what the future will bring, but the experts are betting that managed care is the future of health care. Credentials, such as ABO and NCLE certification, will play a key role in determining who will be accepted by managed care as a provider of services. Without certification, you could be locked out of the health care system!
ABO-NCLE Advanced Certification
• The Advanced Certification designations, ABOC-AC and NCLE-AC, are earned only after a practitioner has attained several years experience, completes a prescribed curriculum of advanced education, and achieves a passing score on the rigorous examinations.
ABO-NCLE Advanced Certification
• Professionals with advanced certification credential are equipped to work in a variety of practice settings, such as: independent opticians, ophthalmology practices, university hospitals, commercial offices, HMO/managed care offices, optometric offices, large clinics, optical product manufacturers. In short, Advanced Certification equips you in all settings which provide eyeglasses and contact lens services to clients.
ABO-NCLE Advanced Certification
• Analyze and Interpret Prescription (49)• Design, Sell, Fit and Dispense Spectacles and other
Ophthalmic Devices (54)• Use Ophthalmic Equipment (25)• Business Management (22) – Professional Relations• Human Resources• Customer Relations• Sales/Marketing• Business• Physical Management• Professional Development
