Ophthalmic Technician Program = Michigan's Only Accredited Program

HFC's Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) Program is the only accredited COT program in the state of Michigan.

Certified ophthalmic technicians work with ophthalmologists to provide patient care by performing numerous eye-related clinical tasks, including but not limited to:

• Performing vision and diagnostic tests;
• Instructing patients about medications and various medical procedures;
• Recording patient medical histories;
• Assisting ophthalmologists with various medical procedures; and
• Supervising and training other ophthalmic medical technicians (OMT).

This two-year associate’s degree program began at HFC in 2009. The program admits approximately 20-25 students per academic year. Currently, there are 12 first-year students and 13 second-year students. Since 2011, 55 students have graduated from this program. Students combine class time with clinical externships in a wide variety of clinical sites. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the National Board Certification Exam.

According to Kathy Campbell, HFC COT program director, there are 19 clinical externship sites in Southeast Michigan where students have been mentored. In fact, HFC has an affiliation agreement with Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) in Detroit. The COMT program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs (CoA-OMP). Upon completion of the program the student is eligible to take the national certifying exam sponsored by the Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).

“Having this stamp of approval from the CoA-OMP is a testament that HFC conforms to a higher set of standards. Students receive their education at HFC and then complete clinical externships. Upon graduation, they are ready to hit the ground running. No on-the-job training is required because they already have it,” said Campbell.

Campbell joined HFC in 2011 after 27 years at Oakland Ophthalmic Surgery in Birmingham, Mich. A COT and ophthalmic surgical assistant (OSA), Campbell has an undergraduate degree in Health Administration and a graduate degree in Human Resources, both from Central Michigan University (CMU) in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. She is currently working on her doctorate in Health Administration at CMU with a projected graduation date of 2017.

“My dream job has always been teaching future OMTs,” said Campbell.

According to Campbell, employment of Ophthalmic Technicians – especially COTs – is in great demand due to the newest addition of electronic medical records.

There is no waiting list to enroll in HFC’s COMT Program. For questions or further information, please call 313.845.9877.