OPT Optometry Assistant Jobs
Optometry Assistant jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in health sciences, biology, or a related field. Most roles involve patient intake, pre-testing, and clinical support under a licensed optometrist, giving you hands-on healthcare experience that counts toward your authorized OPT period.
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Get Access To All JobsThe New England College of Optometry (NECO) prepares the next generation of eye care providers, educators, and innovators through a rigorous curriculum and extensive clinical experiences. NECO graduates compassionate and skilled optometrists prepared to practice in diverse settings. Located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, the College is a small, independent graduate institution with its primary didactic teaching and clinical training location at 424 Beacon Street, Boston.
NECO’s Clinical Network encompasses two owned and operated clinics and a wide network of local, national, and international clinical training sites. As one of the largest providers of optometric services in Massachusetts, NECO faculty and students provide optometric services to nearly 90,000 patients annually across more than 43 locations, including many of Greater Boston’s community health centers.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry
New England College of Optometry’s Clinical Network invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry and Attending Optometrist at the NECO Center for Eye Care (NCEC) Commonwealth. We are seeking a dedicated optometrist who is passionate about delivering high-quality, comprehensive primary eye care while educating and mentoring the next generation of optometrists. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong clinical skills, a commitment to patient-centered care, and enthusiasm for clinical teaching in a collaborative academic environment.
NCEC Commonwealth is a clinical teaching facility that provides comprehensive primary eye care and specialty optometric services to a diverse patient population. The clinic offers a collaborative environment where faculty optometrists deliver high-quality, patient-centered eye care while supervising and educating the next generation of optometrists. The new clinical facility features advanced diagnostic technology and offers opportunities to provide soft contact lens services and contribute to the growth of the clinic’s dry eye practice.
This is a full-time clinical faculty position with an academic appointment at NECO. Faculty rank and appointment track will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Starting salary is $110,000.00.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive primary eye care, including the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular and visual conditions.
- Provide soft contact lens services, with opportunities to participate in dry eye evaluation and management based on the individual interests and expertise.
- Supervise and educate optometry students in a clinical setting, emphasizing clinical reasoning, patient management, and professional development.
- Evaluate student clinical performance and provide constructive feedback in accordance with NECO’s clinical education standards.
- Collaborate with clinical faculty, specialty providers, and staff to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Participate in academic, scholarly, and institutional service activities consistent with the faculty appointment.
Requirements
Qualifications include an OD degree with TPA+ licensure in Massachusetts, advanced professional credentials such as residency training or equivalent clinical experience, appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment, and an active commitment to excellence in patient care and teaching. The start date for the position is July 2027, pending completion of credentialing.
Interested candidates should submit a current curriculum vitae, cover letter, and the names and contact information of three professional references through the NECO employment website.
For inquiries regarding the position, please contact Dr. Timothy Bossie (bossiet@neco.edu).
New England College of Optometry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.
Benefits @ NECO:
New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:
- 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage
- Mental Health and Wellness benefits
- BCBS Dental
- Discounted vision services
- 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
- Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
- Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident
- Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
- 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
- Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer
The New England College of Optometry (NECO) prepares the next generation of eye care providers, educators, and innovators through a rigorous curriculum and extensive clinical experiences. NECO graduates compassionate and skilled optometrists prepared to practice in diverse settings. Located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, the College is a small, independent graduate institution with its primary didactic teaching and clinical training location at 424 Beacon Street, Boston.
NECO’s Clinical Network encompasses two owned and operated clinics and a wide network of local, national, and international clinical training sites. As one of the largest providers of optometric services in Massachusetts, NECO faculty and students provide optometric services to nearly 90,000 patients annually across more than 43 locations, including many of Greater Boston’s community health centers.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry
New England College of Optometry’s Clinical Network invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry and Attending Optometrist at the NECO Center for Eye Care (NCEC) Commonwealth. We are seeking a dedicated optometrist who is passionate about delivering high-quality, comprehensive primary eye care while educating and mentoring the next generation of optometrists. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong clinical skills, a commitment to patient-centered care, and enthusiasm for clinical teaching in a collaborative academic environment.
NCEC Commonwealth is a clinical teaching facility that provides comprehensive primary eye care and specialty optometric services to a diverse patient population. The clinic offers a collaborative environment where faculty optometrists deliver high-quality, patient-centered eye care while supervising and educating the next generation of optometrists. The new clinical facility features advanced diagnostic technology and offers opportunities to provide soft contact lens services and contribute to the growth of the clinic’s dry eye practice.
This is a full-time clinical faculty position with an academic appointment at NECO. Faculty rank and appointment track will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Starting salary is $110,000.00.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive primary eye care, including the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular and visual conditions.
- Provide soft contact lens services, with opportunities to participate in dry eye evaluation and management based on the individual interests and expertise.
- Supervise and educate optometry students in a clinical setting, emphasizing clinical reasoning, patient management, and professional development.
- Evaluate student clinical performance and provide constructive feedback in accordance with NECO’s clinical education standards.
- Collaborate with clinical faculty, specialty providers, and staff to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Participate in academic, scholarly, and institutional service activities consistent with the faculty appointment.
Requirements
Qualifications include an OD degree with TPA+ licensure in Massachusetts, advanced professional credentials such as residency training or equivalent clinical experience, appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment, and an active commitment to excellence in patient care and teaching. The start date for the position is July 2027, pending completion of credentialing.
Interested candidates should submit a current curriculum vitae, cover letter, and the names and contact information of three professional references through the NECO employment website.
For inquiries regarding the position, please contact Dr. Timothy Bossie (bossiet@neco.edu).
New England College of Optometry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.
Benefits @ NECO:
New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:
- 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage
- Mental Health and Wellness benefits
- BCBS Dental
- Discounted vision services
- 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
- Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
- Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident
- Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
- 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
- Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Optometry Assistant
Target independent optometry practices
Private practices are often more flexible about hiring OPT students than large retail chains. They make hiring decisions in-house, which means you can speak directly with the decision-maker about your work authorization without going through a corporate HR process.
Lead with your OPT end date, not your visa status
When reaching out to employers, frame it as availability: tell them you're authorized to work through a specific date. Avoid leading with the word 'visa.' Employers respond better to confident, concrete timelines than to immigration terminology they may not understand.
Highlight clinical pre-testing skills explicitly
OPT students who can perform tonometry, visual acuity testing, or lensometry stand out immediately. List every instrument and procedure you've trained on. Practices want someone who reduces chair time for the optometrist from day one.
Get your CPR and BLS certification before applying
Many optometry offices require or strongly prefer CPR and Basic Life Support certification. Having it before your first interview removes a common hiring objection and signals that you're ready to work in a clinical environment with minimal onboarding.
Ask about STEM OPT extension eligibility early
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field like biology or health informatics, you may qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviewing so you can accurately tell employers how long you're authorized to work.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly optometry employers
Browsing Migrate Mate filters roles by OPT authorization compatibility, saving you the time of applying to practices that won't consider work-authorized candidates. Focus your applications where employers have already indicated openness to sponsorship or OPT hiring.
Optometry Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Optometry Assistant on F-1 OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in a field related to optometry, health sciences, or biology, working as an Optometry Assistant is a valid use of your OPT period. The role must be directly related to your major area of study. Your Designated School Official can confirm that the position qualifies before you accept an offer.
Do Optometry Assistant jobs typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Most small and independent optometry practices do not routinely sponsor H-1B visas because the process involves legal fees and administrative burden that smaller employers often avoid. Larger vision care networks or hospital-affiliated practices are more likely to have HR infrastructure for sponsorship. Use Migrate Mate to identify employers who have shown a history of sponsoring work visas for clinical support roles.
Does an Optometry Assistant role qualify as a STEM OPT job?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself. If you graduated with a degree in biology, neuroscience, health informatics, or another STEM-designated field, your position may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The role must also meet the employer's formal training plan requirements and be reported through your school. Confirm your eligibility with your DSO before applying.
How many hours per week can I work as an Optometry Assistant on OPT?
During your post-completion OPT period, you must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status. There is no maximum hour cap, so full-time employment is permitted and common for clinical roles. If you're in your pre-completion OPT period while still enrolled, you're limited to 20 hours per week during academic terms.
What happens to my OPT if my Optometry Assistant job ends?
You can be unemployed for a maximum of 90 cumulative days during your OPT period without violating your F-1 status. If you lose your position, you need to find a new qualifying role within that window or risk falling out of status. Report any change in employment to your DSO immediately and use Migrate Mate to find a replacement role as quickly as possible.