As an eye care assistant student at COD, you'll find:

• Small class sizes that ensure students receive personalized attention.
• Dedicated instructors with a passion for teaching, with years of professional experience as ophthalmic technicians and optometrists.
• Hybrid program offering live didactic learning, hands on lab and live clinical instruction in ophthalmology clinics and hospitals. Online components supplement all areas of learning.
• Program accreditation from the International Council of Accreditation (ICA) for Allied Ophthalmic Education Programs.
• The only eye care certified ophthalmic assistant certificate program in the state of Illinois.

Eye Care Assistant, Certificate

The Eye Care Assistant certificate is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as assistants in optometrist/ophthalmology practices. Under the supervision of a licensed eye care professional, eye care assistants render support services and aid in the treatment of eye conditions and diseases. The College intends to seek accreditation of the program, and once granted, graduates will then be prepared to sit for the certification examination administered by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). This certificate requires a minimum of 35 credits in the courses listed below.

The Eye Care Assistant program is a clinical ophthalmic assistant program accredited by the International Council of Accreditation (ICA) for Allied Ophthalmic Education Programs. Students are eligible to sit for the COA (certified ophthalmic assistant ) exam upon completion of program.

More information about ICA can be found on: icaccreditation.org

Address: 2025 Woodlane Drive St. Paul, MN 55125-2998
Phone: (651) 731-7243
Fax: (651) 731-0410
Email: ica@icaccreditation.org

Students are expected to provide proof of a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan prior to the start of the program or clinical start. The insurance plan must cover you throughout the length of your clinical experience, which in most cases, consists of the entire length of the program. If you are in need of Health Insurance, please note the following important dates and visit cod.studentbenefitplans.com.

Important Dates

• Open Enrollment: Typically opens November through mid-January
  If you will need health insurance ANYTIME within the next year, you must apply during the current open enrollment period.

If you miss open enrollment, but have a qualifying life event, you can still apply during a Special Enrollment Period.

While we cannot guarantee your official acceptance into the program, you need to be aware that there is short timeframe of when you are able to purchase a Health Insurance plan. The purpose of this step is to make you aware and that the time to research and purchase is NOW. Purchasing health insurance outside of this timeframe will take months and may prohibit your admittance into the Program. NOTE: Obtaining Health Insurance is NOT an application requirement but it is a requirement to be in the program.

• Clinical Requirements Packet - Learn more about health requirements you may need to complete prior to registration or after program admission.
• Social Security Number (SSN) Requirements - While the College may not require an SSN for admission to all healthcare programs, students should be aware that the absence of an SSN may limit or prevent their ability to participate in certain clinical experiences, obtain required licensure or certification or secure employment upon graduation. Many healthcare employers, clinical education sites, licensing agencies and credentialing organizations require a valid SSN for employment, criminal background checks, payroll processing and/or professional licensure or certification. Students are strongly encouraged to verify SSN requirements with the applicable licensing board, certifying agency and prospective employers before enrolling in a healthcare program.

Eye Care Assistant students will develop skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment as entry-level eye care/ophthalmic assistants and become contributing members of an eye care team.

Eye Care Assistant Program graduates will:

• Obtain knowledge of the anatomy and physiology, patient care concepts, aseptic technique and environmental control, supplies and equipment and procedures in order to enhance his/her ability to provide safe and quality care to all ophthalmic patients.
• Demonstrate high ethical codes of conduct and high professional standards as clinicians. 
• Be prepared academically and clinically to successfully pass the certified ophthalmic assistant (COA) exam mandated by I-JCAPHO.
• Feel encouraged to possess a life-long commitment to personal growth and professional development through continued involvement in the profession.
• Learn how to provide a safe and caring environment, in which working as a part of the ophthalmic team can provide a positive outcome for all culturally diverse patients.
• Receive hands-on experiences that require applying learned material/knowledge to practice by incorporating technical and critical thinking along with clinical reasoning/problem solving.

The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) credentials set the profession's standards for ensuring the knowledge and competence of practicing Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) and are recognized as the most respected global credential for AOP.

The Eye Care Assistant program at College of DuPage will focus on JCAHPO credentials of the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA).

As part of the allied health profession, Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) are one of the members of the professional team of eye care providers. Certified AOP perform assigned procedures under the direction or supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery and qualified in ophthalmology. AOP are not independent practitioners and may not diagnose, teat eye disorders or prescribe medications. They can supply vital information to the physician, who is treating patients, and may assist in areas such as surgery, patient education and compliance.

Some of the most common tasks performed by AOP at all levels of certification include:

• Taking patient histories
• Maintaining instruments
• Providing patient services
• Taking eye measurements
• Administering tests and evaluations
• Performing a variety of clinical tasks

JCAHPO certifications and examinations include knowledge and performance of techniques in the administration of eye drops, ointments, and irrigating solutions to the eye, and knowledge about oral medications and non-invasive techniques. It is not within the scope of JCAHPO certification and examination to evaluate the performance of any injection technique or similar invasive procedure when needles, trocars, cannulas, or instillation devices are placed within and beneath tissue surfaces.

While certification is an important indication of your knowledge and skill, remember that JCAHPO does not guarantee the job performance or express an opinion of the competence of individuals who have achieved certification.

The Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) is the entry level core designation designed to start eye care professionals on the path to success. The COA designation confirms an assistant's knowledge in 19 specific content areas.

Both the Eye Care Assistant and Ophthalmic Technician programs have partnered with the following local clinics. Clinic sites are subject to change.

• Advanced Eye Care
• Central Eye Care
• Chicago Cornea Consultants
• Chicagoland Advanced Retina Care Ltd.
• Clemson Eye
• Dr. Gaurav Singh
• Duly Health & Care
• DuPage Eye Center
• Edward Hospital
• Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
• Eye 2 Eye Vision Center
• Eyes of Grace
• Geneva Eye Care
• Illinois Ophthalmology Consultants
• Kirk Eye Center
• Loyola Hospital
• Lurie Children's Hospital
• Midwest Retina Consultants
• Palmetto Eye and Laser Center
• Retina Consultants of Carolina
• Retina Macular Care & Vitreal Consultants
• Spectrum Eye Institute
• Suburban Eye Consultants
• Swedish American
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• Visionary Eye Consultants
• Wheaton Eye Clinic
• Windy City Retina