Program Description

This program simultaneously prepares students for jobs in three ophthalmic health care areas, as opticians or as technicians working with optometrists or ophthalmologists. A concentrated presentation of career development and clinical experience, combined with general education courses accomplishes this multidisciplinary approach. Among the marketable skills acquired are clinical data collection and ophthalmic fabrication and dispensing. The program prepares students to assist in performing tests to determine defects in vision, preparing and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses, and administering corrective eye exercises and other treatments under the supervision of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The student begins working with patients during the third semester, in clinics staffed by opticians, optometrists, and/or ophthalmologists.

This is a two-year program, requiring 72 credits for an Associate in Science degree.

Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Opticianry Program at the Medical Center Campus, you must meet these criteria.

• You hold, or will hold at the time of enrollment in the Opticianry Program, a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (GED).

• In accordance with the school’s policy of dual admissions, you have applied to and been fully accepted by Miami-Dade College. (For application information, see the Miami Dade College Catalog, available online or from admissions and registrations offices on any campus.)

• You have passing scores on the Computerized Placement Test (CPT), or, if you have taken the test but have not passed, then you have satisfactorily completed the developmental courses prescribed by MDC. The CPT can be scheduled through Testing Services at any MDC campus. For exceptions to this requirement, see the MDC Catalog.

• You have earned a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a scale of 4.0 for any college-level courses you have taken.

• You can demonstrate comprehension and proficiency in the English language at the college level. If your native language is other than English, you must have completed the Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ), which can be taken at any MDC campus.

• You display the qualities of a good candidate, as discussed in the next section.

To apply to study opticianry at the Medical Center Campus, complete the following steps.

• If you have not been enrolled at Miami-Dade College during the past 12 months, complete an Application for Admission or Readmission to College Credit Courses. Choose the Medical Center Campus as the “preferred” campus.

• Sign up to take the Computerized Placement Test (CPT) through Testing Services, Room 1303, Medical Center Campus, 305-237-4275, or through the testing center at any of the other MDC campuses. You must sign up at least one month in advance of taking the test, and you must take the test before the date that program application materials are due.

• If you have previously attended any other college or university, arrange for that institution to send official transcripts to the Registrar at the Medical Center Campus by the due date for program application materials.

• Submit the following program application materials to the New Student Center on the Medical Center Campus. Applications will be taken until the beginning of classes in August, but once the maximum number of students has been reached, no more applications will be considered. We recommend that you submit all materials before June 1st.

ADA Standards

In keeping with its mission and goals, and in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Medical Center Campus promotes an environment of respect and support for persons with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations. The definition of individuals with disabilities are those who currently have, have a record of having, or are regarded as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Major life activities include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, and working.

Individuals applying for admission, progression to clinical courses, and graduation from a program in Nursing and Allied Health Technologies must be able to meet the physical and emotional requirements of the academic program. In addition, students admitted to the programs in Nursing and Allied Health Technologies must possess the following qualities:

• The emotional maturity and stability to approach highly stressful human situations in a calm and rational manner.

• The ability to make clinical judgment using critical thinking.

• The ability to adhere to ethical standards of conduct as well as applicable state and federal laws.

• The ability to provide effective written, oral, nonverbal communication with patients and their families, colleagues, health care providers, and the public.

An individual who poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or themselves may be denied admission, progression or graduation. The college's determination that a person poses a direct threat will be based on an individualized assessment that relies on current medical evidence or on the best available evidence to assess the nature, duration, and severity of the risk and the probability that the potential injury will actually occur.

For specific Performance Standards associated with the Opticianry Program, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Because of the unique responsibilities involved in all Allied Health professions, each department reserves the right to require that the student who appears to be unsuited for any program therein withdraw from the program and be guided into another curriculum of study at the college.

Curriculum

Students are admitted to the Opticianry Program in August of each year. A total of 72 credits must be completed for an Associate in Science degree. The required general education courses are an important part of the program. Since admissions are highly competitive, it is strongly recommended that you take the core courses, particularly the natural science courses, before you are admitted to the program. Your success at the courses you take before applying to the program will improve your chances of being admitted, although taking these courses in advance does not guarantee admission.

Students may choose the full-time or the part-time option. Course content is sequential, and students should plan to enroll in all Opticianry courses in the order and during the terms indicated in the following curriculum outlines.

Approximate Costs

As of August 2006, the cost of tuition was $68.94 per credit for in-state students and $228.76 per credit for out-of-state students. Here are estimates for total tuition, based on 72 credits at these per-credit rates. In-state students: $4,963.68. Out-of-state students: $16,470.72. Tuition is due at the beginning of each term and can be determined by multiplying the number of credits by the cost per credit hour. Additionally, over the course of the program, students should expect to pay approximately $100 for uniforms, $400 for books, and $200 for lab fees. Malpractice insurance costs approximately $15.50 once a year. All costs are subject to change.

Accreditation

The Opticianry Program is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA).

Licensure

Graduates are eligible to apply for the licensing examination for Opticianry (L.D.O.).

Mission and Goals

The mission of Miami-Dade College is to provide accessible, affordable, high-quality education by keeping the learner’s needs at the center of decision-making in partnership with its dynamic, multicultural community.

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The mission of the Medical Center Campus is to provide students with affordable, accessible, quality education in health care careers. Faculty and staff strive to respond to the changing needs of students, health care providers, and health care consumers in the community at large through collaboration with health care and business communities.

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The mission of the School of Allied Health Technologies is to provide excellent, affordable, accessible health care education and to promote quality health care services in our community.

Important Phone Numbers

New Student Center		305-237-4141
Advisement Services		305-237-4238
Financial Aid		305-237-4160
Student Life		305-237-4213
Testing Services		305-237-4275

Faculty and Staff

	Jerry Brown Program Coordinator Opticianry Office: 2229 Phone: 305-237-4267 Email: jerry.brown@mdc.edu
	Joe Simmons Professor Office: 2227 Phone: 305-237-4230 Email: ronald.simmons@mdc.edu
	Dr. Alan Sobel Clinical Supervisor Office: 1106 Phone: 305-237-4023 Email: alan.sobel@mdc.edu
	Liliana Mejia-Rodriguez Vision Care Office Manager Office: 1101 Phone: 305-237-4351 Email: lmejiaro@mdc.edu

Visit the Medical Center Campus on the Web at www.mdc.edu/medical/
Note:  You have to be connected to the Internet to access this web site
 

The mission of the Medical Center Campus is to provide students with affordable, accessible, quality education in health care careers. Faculty and staff strive to respond to the changing needs of students, health care providers, and health care consumers in the community at large through collaboration with health care and business communities. The Campus provides an environment that is conducive to learning by recognizing and responding to the diverse learning styles, cultures, and resources of its students.