INTRODUCTION

Job opportunities
Eye Tech News
Program Information
Educational Links
Upcoming Courses
Applications

OPHTHALMIC ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIO’s Ophthalmic Assistant Program is approved to meet the educational requirement for JCAHPO certification. The entire program consists of three college-level courses that meet once a week for 15 weeks each. The courses are: 1. Ophthalmic Assistant Theory I 2. Ophthalmic Assistant Theory II 3. Ophthalmic Assistant Skills Most students also work full time during the day and take one course per term to complete the program in three terms. If you start the program in August you would finish the following July. Some students finish within two terms by doubling up for one term. This means they sign up for a theory course and the skills course in the same term and attend classes two nights per week for that term. This is a niche market field. While skilled workers are in high demand, the career field is relatively unknown. You won’t find multiple sections of DIO’s classes, as you might for English 101 at your community college. This means you can only take OA Theory I in the fall term, and OA Theory II in the winter term. If you don’t register in time, you might wait another year for the same class to be repeated. We encourage everyone to contact DIO early, make arrangements to take our entrance examination, and get your application processed at least a month before you wish to register. The next term starts in May. Apply NOW !!ENTRANCE EXAM REQUIRED The Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET) is required for admission to many allied health programs across the country. Most state education departments mandate that a school prove an applicant’s “ability to benefit” from their training program. Passing scores on the HOBET are one indication that an individual has the background to handle the reading assignments and mathematical computations required of the profession. The HOBET also identifies how an individual approaches study in general, and identifies which learning approach is most effective for that individual. The diagnostic report generated by the HOBET can alert DIO to an individual’s special needs so that assistance can be given before the student experiences problems that may tarnish one’s academic record. Since the DIO is not on a college campus, we usually recommend contacting learning centers on a community college campus near the student’s home for math or reading comprehension assistance. Appointments to take the HOBET may be scheduled between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM with Carolyn Mulford. Allow 2 1/2 hours to take the test when you arrive. A study guide is also available for $29.15 (tax incl.). Prepare now!! SO, WHAT’S ON THE HOBET? The HOBET “passing” score is based on a measure of reading comprehension and math skills. Reading comprehension skills are evaluated at the inferential level of understanding. This means you will be asked to draw conclusions from facts and statements within a paragraph. You will also be asked to predict outcomes. If your reading comprehension score is below average, you will be given a reading level designation of Frustration. This means that even with the benefit of lectures, you would experience more than average difficulty in critically reading college level material. There are average and above average scores as well. The math section will begin with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers. It will then require you to do the same for common fractions, decimals, percentages, and basic algebra. You will need to know how to calculate problems with positive and negative integers. The learning style section is not used to calculate a “pass/fail” score, but helps identify your best study approaches.