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 JobsA career at Community Health Centers offers a unique opportunity to join a team that makes a real impact in our community every day, by improving individuals' health while enhancing their quality of life.
Top Reasons to Work at Community Health Centers:
- No weekends for the majority of our centers, 10 Paid Holidays and early Fridays.
- A great benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid holidays, retirement plan, and more.
- Competitive compensation with advancement opportunities and tuition / training reimbursement.
- Awarded “Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation” for five consecutive years.
- Awarded “Top 100 Workplaces for Growing Families” by Orlando Sentinel.
- Modernized and attractive health centers, that patients love.
Job Summary:
The Optometry Manager is responsible for direct oversight of all the Optometry sites to meet financial, quality, patient satisfaction goals, employee engagement and retention. Provide leadership, administration, and coordination within the Optical sites to include clinical and non-clinical areas.
Act as the liaison between the Optical sites business and the Regional Directors. Provide managerial leadership to ensure the implementation of the CHC Mission and Strategic initiatives. Ensures optimum employee satisfaction by building and maintaining a working environment of trust, open communication, and respect for each employee.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, or related field.
- Four (4) years of related work experience may be considered in lieu of a specialized Bachelor’s Degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 3 years supervisory experience in Optometry practice required.
Certification/Licensure:
- Current/valid BLS certification, or must be obtained within the first 30 days of employment.
Other requirements:
- Must work flexible hours as required.
- Travel to multiple locations required.
- Required to maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
- Required to respond to after hour alarm calls.
A career at Community Health Centers offers a unique opportunity to join a team that makes a real impact in our community every day, by improving individuals' health while enhancing their quality of life.
Top Reasons to Work at Community Health Centers:
- No weekends for the majority of our centers, 10 Paid Holidays and early Fridays.
- A great benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid holidays, retirement plan, and more.
- Competitive compensation with advancement opportunities and tuition / training reimbursement.
- Awarded “Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation” for five consecutive years.
- Awarded “Top 100 Workplaces for Growing Families” by Orlando Sentinel.
- Modernized and attractive health centers, that patients love.
Job Summary:
The Optometry Manager is responsible for direct oversight of all the Optometry sites to meet financial, quality, patient satisfaction goals, employee engagement and retention. Provide leadership, administration, and coordination within the Optical sites to include clinical and non-clinical areas.
Act as the liaison between the Optical sites business and the Regional Directors. Provide managerial leadership to ensure the implementation of the CHC Mission and Strategic initiatives. Ensures optimum employee satisfaction by building and maintaining a working environment of trust, open communication, and respect for each employee.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, or related field.
- Four (4) years of related work experience may be considered in lieu of a specialized Bachelor’s Degree.
Experience:
- A minimum of 3 years supervisory experience in Optometry practice required.
Certification/Licensure:
- Current/valid BLS certification, or must be obtained within the first 30 days of employment.
Other requirements:
- Must work flexible hours as required.
- Travel to multiple locations required.
- Required to maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
- Required to respond to after hour alarm calls.
See all OPT Optometry Assistant Jobs
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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.