There will be no new students accepted in the program for Academic year 2024-2025. Current students should reach out to an academic counselor to create an academic plan to complete their remaining optical technology courses by the end of Summer 2025 semester.
A student who receives a one-year certificate can work in a retail outlet, optical laboratory or a doctor's office. Other career paths can lead to related work as a sales representative for optical products. Note: In order to be eligible to take the State Board Exam for licensure, you must finish the Optical Technology degree program.
Program contact: Learn more
This certificate will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the certificate, please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.
There will be no new students accepted in the program for Academic year 2024-2025. Current students should reach out to an academic counselor to create an academic plan to complete their remaining optical technology courses by the end of Summer 2025 semester.
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Communicate verbally and in writing to clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
- Design eyewear by combining accurate physiognomic measurements with knowledge of ocular anatomy, geometric optics and prescription analysis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the operation and function of equipment and tools used in the fabrication and verification of eyewear.
- Perform all tasks associated with the fitting and dispensing of eyewear.
- Apply knowledge of ocular physiology and of local, state and federal guidelines in order to maintain accurate medical records.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ophthalmic profession and optical manufacturing process.
- Work within the safety standards that govern opticianry.
- Discuss Ohio and national statutes that govern opticianry.
- Conduct him/herself in a professional manner at all times.
Suggested Semester Sequence
| Summer Start | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| OPT-1100 | Introduction to Optical Technology | 1 |
| MATH-1190 | Algebraic and Quantitative Reasoning (or Any Approved Ohio Transfer 36 Mathematics course) 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| Honors College Composition I | ||
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| First Semester | ||
| BIO-1230 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye | 4 |
| OPT-1310 | Theoretical Optics I | 2 |
| OPT-1400 | Introduction to Fabrication Principles | 1 |
| OPT-1411 | Basic Spectacle Fabrication | 1 |
| OPT-1510 | Optical Dispensing I | 3 |
| OPT-1610 | Contact Lens I | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| OPT-1320 | Theoretical Optics II | 2 |
| OPT-1421 | Advanced Spectacle Fabrication | 1 |
| OPT-1520 | Optical Dispensing II | 3 |
| OPT-1621 | Contact Lens II | 2 |
| PHYS-1300 | Physics of Optical Materials | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 32 | |
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MATH-1100 Mathematical Explorations or MATH-1240 Contemporary Mathematics taken prior to Fall 2024 will be accepted to meet mathematics requirement for this program.
MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement. These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016. Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.