Academics

• Overview
• Accreditation & Licensure
• Program Effectiveness
• Program Requirements
• Physical Demands
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Career Information
• Paying for College

Program Effectiveness

The Vision Care Technology/Opticianry Program performs an annual review of the program's mission, goals, and learning objectives.  The review process is initiated during the fall and continues regularly with the program personnel (faculty, staff, and clinical supervisor) to assess how the program is achieving the mission, goals, and learning objectives of the program.  Collectively, the program personnel review the pass rates on national examinations, state licensing examinations, and review the responses from the employer/preceptor surveys.  Curricular content areas, such as lecture and laboratory content, are reviewed extensively by the faculty found in the program.  Those content areas where patient/student interaction takes place (clinical setting) are also reviewed by all program personnel to ensure multiple perspectives are included during the review process.

Upon completion of the program personnel's review, the results are shared with the program's advisory committee.  During the review of these areas, the advisory committee is afforded the opportunity to provide input and guidance related to the program's ability in achieving these goals.  Additionally, during the Advisory Committee meetings, a review of the program's pass rates on national examinations, state licensing examinations, and the results of the employer surveys are shared.  The Advisory Committee also reviews graduate surveys to assess the graduate's satisfaction of the program. 

The faculty, staff, administration, and advisory committee evaluate the program on a regular basis to ensure that the program mission and goals are being met.  The faculty, administration, and advisory board also evaluate the programs strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.  The evaluation helps the college achieve their mission, goals, and strategic objectives (MDC Strategic Goals).

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Opticianry Program is to provide excellent eye care education and service to the students and the community.

The Mission of Medical 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 conductive to learning by recognizing and responding to the diverse learning styles, cultures, and resources of its students.

The Mission of the School of Health Sciences is to provide excellent, affordable, accessible health care education and promotes quality health care services in our community.

Goals

The goals of the Opticianry (Vision Care) Program are consistent with the stated goals of Miami Dade College and include the student, faculty, institution, and community.

1. Student goals
   • To accomplish the educational objectives of each course and to fulfill the criteria used to evaluate student success.
   • To develop the professional attitudes and discipline necessary for success in the ophthalmic health care professions.
2. Faculty goals
   • To provide teaching/learning experiences for students which develop specific knowledge of concepts and skills pertaining to the community served by the institution.  To develop and define the objectives of each course, including laboratory and clinical experiences.
   • Faculty goals also include developing methods and tools to measure students' achievement.
3. Educational institution goals
   • To maintain accreditation of the Opticianry (Vision Care) Program.
   • To prepare the graduates to successfully pass the credentialing process (licensure/certification/registration) for their particular career option(s).
   • To provide a vision care professional with a broad educational background to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
   • To provide the graduates with a sound background for their future education, life pursuits, and compete in today's global economy.
4. Community related goals
   • To provide the ophthalmic community with a skilled graduate qualified by academic and clinical training to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a vision care technician or optician.
   • To promote cooperation among the Vision Care Industry that will utilize and recognize the graduates' skills.
   • To eliminate hazardous waste and reduce non-hazardous waste to the minimum levels economically and technically practical, and to be in full-compliance with all federal and state environmental regulations.

Objective/Outcomes

Upon completion of the Opticianry (Vision Care) program at the Medical Campus, graduates from Miami Dade College should emulate these outcomes

1. Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
2. Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.
3. Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
4. Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.
6. Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.
8. Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.
9. Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
10. Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.

The learning objectives are continually assessed by faculty and are achieved through the successful completion of the following outcomes:

1. Program completion at 64%
2. Job placement/transfer to senior college at 80%
3. National Opticianry Competency Examination (ABO) pass rates - 85%
4. Contact Lens Registry Examination (NCLE) pass rates - 80%
5. State licensure pass rates-80%

The following information provides the outcomes for the Miami Dade College Vision Care Technology/Opticianry program.

Enrollment and Retention/Graduation Data (Full-time) ( Includes Part-time Graduates)

Class	Enrolled	Graduated	Graduation Rate
2013-2015	34	31	91%
2014-2016	31	24	77%
2015-2017	19	17	89%
2016-2018	26	20	77%
2017-2019	20	10	50%
2018-2020	21	15	71%
2019-2021	25	21	84%
2020-2022	18	9	50%
2021-2023	16	11	69%
2022-2024	26

Enrollment and Retention/Graduation Data (Part-time)

Class	Enrolled	Graduated	Graduation Rate
2013-2016	3	3	100%
2014-2017	1	1	100%
2015-2018	9	3	33%
2016-2019	3	0	0%
2017-2020	0	0	0
2018-2021	3	3	100%
2019-2022	3	1	33%
2020-2023	2	1	50%

Placement Rates Employed in Field or Enrolled in School for Higher Degree

Graduation Year	Percent Placed
2015	87%
2016	92%
2017	88%
2018	90%
2019	100%
2020	93%
2021	95%
2022	100%
2023	100%

American Board of Opticianry

Class	# Sitting for Exam	# Passing	Percent Passing
2015	27	27	100%
2016	24	24	100%
2017	18	18	100%
2018	22	22	100%
2019	10	10	100%
2020	17	17	100%
2021	21	21	100%
2022	10	10	100%
2023	11	11	100%

National Contact Lens Registry Examination

Class	# Sitting for Exam	# Passing	Percent Passing
2015	30	28	93%
2016	24	22	92%
2017	18	18	100%
2018	22	22	100%
2019	10	10	100%
2020	16	16	100%
2021	21	21	100%
2022	9	9	100%
2023	11	11	100%

Florida Board of Opticianry Licensure Examination
(ABO and NCLE certifications are required)

Class	# of Graduates	# Sitting for the Exam	# Passing	Percent Passing
2015	31	26	22	85%
2016	24	15	15	100%
2017	20	13	13	100%
2018	22	17	17	100%
2019	10	9	9	100%
2020	15	13	13	100%
2021	21	19	19	100%
2022	9	9	9	100%
2023	11