OPT Orthoptist Jobs
Orthoptist roles in the U.S. require state licensure, clinical credentialing, and an employer willing to file an LCA before your OPT end date. With a 12-month standard OPT window and a 24-month STEM extension available for qualifying programs, targeting ophthalmology practices and academic medical centers early gives you the best runway for a sponsored transition.
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Get Access To All JobsA Brief Overview
Provide patient care under supervision of a physician or optometrist relative to the patient's age specific needs and under various conditions.
What You Will Do
- Provide patient care under supervision of a physician or optometrist relative to the patient’s age specific needs and under various conditions.
- Conduct clinical evaluations of infant, pediatric and adult patients with amblyopia, strabismus and ocular motor dysfunction.
- Initiate documentation of the patient’s chief complaint, history of present illness, review of systems and all pertinent ocular findings accurately and in accordance with compliance guidelines.
- Tests performed may include, but are not limited to: motor and sensory evaluations of strabismus, evaluation of extraocular movements, visual acuity measurements, color vision testing, lensometry, testing of pupil function.
- Make recommendations to ophthalmologist regarding amblyopia therapy, follow infants and children undergoing occlusion treatment and modify the treatment regimen as necessary to achieve treatment goals.
- Develop, monitor and implement treatment plans following evaluation of patient needs.
- Perform specialized motility recordings (i.e. Lancaster Screen, Synptophore).
- Perform patient check in, including but not limited to obtaining and recording vital signs, height, weight, chief complaint, brief relevant history including pain status, allergies, current medication and any other pertinent information for specific age groups.
- Review medical records for up-to-date master problem list including patient reported medication, allergies, and diagnoses that are documented by physicians or providers.
- Report pertinent observations and information, both written and verbal, to appropriate personnel.
- Document complete and accurate patient observations, care and outcomes of interventions and enter in the paper or electronic medical record.
- Calibrate and maintain ophthalmologic equipment to ensure proper working order.
Additional Responsibilities
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
- For specific duties and responsibilities, refer to documentation provided by the department during orientation.
- Must abide by all requirements to safely and securely maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) for our patients. Annual training, the UH Code of Conduct and UH policies and procedures are in place to address appropriate use of PHI in the workplace.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree Orthoptics (Required) and
- Other Accredited Program: Complete an accredited orthoptist program. (Required)
Work Experience
- Completion of post graduate training and certification as an Orthoptist. (Required)
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Use of diagnostic and patient care equipment and general office equipment, including telephone, pager, and fax machines. (Required proficiency)
- Demonstrate proficiency in use of the computer for all aspects of patient care and documentation. Experience in facilitating the coordination of patient services within the clinic and other departments, e.g. radiology, clinical lab, etc. (Required proficiency)
- Knowledge and experience in Preparing/maintain medical records, including ordering, filing, and copying when appropriate. (Required proficiency)
- Demonstrated skill in interpersonal relationships (Required proficiency)
- Ability to work independently in a high stress environment (Required proficiency)
Licenses and Certifications
- Certified Orthoptist (CO) via the American Association of Certified Orthoptist (AACO) (Required Upon Hire) and
- Basic Life Support (BLS) (Required within 6 Months)
Physical Demands
- Standing Frequently
- Walking Frequently
- Sitting Rarely
- Lifting Frequently 50 lbs
- Carrying Frequently 50 lbs
- Pushing Frequently 50 lbs
- Pulling Frequently 50 lbs
- Climbing Occasionally 50 lbs
- Balancing Occasionally
- Stooping Frequently
- Kneeling Frequently
- Crouching Frequently
- Crawling Occasionally
- Reaching Frequently
- Handling Frequently
- Grasping Frequently
- Feeling Constantly
- Talking Constantly
- Hearing Constantly
- Repetitive Motions Constantly
- Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination Constantly
Travel Requirements
- 100% Orthoptist will travel to multiple locations
A Brief Overview
Provide patient care under supervision of a physician or optometrist relative to the patient's age specific needs and under various conditions.
What You Will Do
- Provide patient care under supervision of a physician or optometrist relative to the patient’s age specific needs and under various conditions.
- Conduct clinical evaluations of infant, pediatric and adult patients with amblyopia, strabismus and ocular motor dysfunction.
- Initiate documentation of the patient’s chief complaint, history of present illness, review of systems and all pertinent ocular findings accurately and in accordance with compliance guidelines.
- Tests performed may include, but are not limited to: motor and sensory evaluations of strabismus, evaluation of extraocular movements, visual acuity measurements, color vision testing, lensometry, testing of pupil function.
- Make recommendations to ophthalmologist regarding amblyopia therapy, follow infants and children undergoing occlusion treatment and modify the treatment regimen as necessary to achieve treatment goals.
- Develop, monitor and implement treatment plans following evaluation of patient needs.
- Perform specialized motility recordings (i.e. Lancaster Screen, Synptophore).
- Perform patient check in, including but not limited to obtaining and recording vital signs, height, weight, chief complaint, brief relevant history including pain status, allergies, current medication and any other pertinent information for specific age groups.
- Review medical records for up-to-date master problem list including patient reported medication, allergies, and diagnoses that are documented by physicians or providers.
- Report pertinent observations and information, both written and verbal, to appropriate personnel.
- Document complete and accurate patient observations, care and outcomes of interventions and enter in the paper or electronic medical record.
- Calibrate and maintain ophthalmologic equipment to ensure proper working order.
Additional Responsibilities
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
- For specific duties and responsibilities, refer to documentation provided by the department during orientation.
- Must abide by all requirements to safely and securely maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) for our patients. Annual training, the UH Code of Conduct and UH policies and procedures are in place to address appropriate use of PHI in the workplace.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree Orthoptics (Required) and
- Other Accredited Program: Complete an accredited orthoptist program. (Required)
Work Experience
- Completion of post graduate training and certification as an Orthoptist. (Required)
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Use of diagnostic and patient care equipment and general office equipment, including telephone, pager, and fax machines. (Required proficiency)
- Demonstrate proficiency in use of the computer for all aspects of patient care and documentation. Experience in facilitating the coordination of patient services within the clinic and other departments, e.g. radiology, clinical lab, etc. (Required proficiency)
- Knowledge and experience in Preparing/maintain medical records, including ordering, filing, and copying when appropriate. (Required proficiency)
- Demonstrated skill in interpersonal relationships (Required proficiency)
- Ability to work independently in a high stress environment (Required proficiency)
Licenses and Certifications
- Certified Orthoptist (CO) via the American Association of Certified Orthoptist (AACO) (Required Upon Hire) and
- Basic Life Support (BLS) (Required within 6 Months)
Physical Demands
- Standing Frequently
- Walking Frequently
- Sitting Rarely
- Lifting Frequently 50 lbs
- Carrying Frequently 50 lbs
- Pushing Frequently 50 lbs
- Pulling Frequently 50 lbs
- Climbing Occasionally 50 lbs
- Balancing Occasionally
- Stooping Frequently
- Kneeling Frequently
- Crouching Frequently
- Crawling Occasionally
- Reaching Frequently
- Handling Frequently
- Grasping Frequently
- Feeling Constantly
- Talking Constantly
- Hearing Constantly
- Repetitive Motions Constantly
- Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination Constantly
Travel Requirements
- 100% Orthoptist will travel to multiple locations
See all OPT Orthoptist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Orthoptist
Verify your STEM OPT extension eligibility early
Check whether your orthoptics or vision science program carries a STEM-designated CIP code before you graduate. A 24-month extension more than doubles your sponsorship runway and changes how employers evaluate the cost of filing.
Research LCA filing history at target employers
Search the OFLC Wage Search tool for orthoptist and ophthalmic technician job titles before applying. Employers who have certified LCAs in recent years are already familiar with the DOL process and less likely to decline sponsorship over paperwork concerns.
Get your state orthoptist license before your OPT start date
Most hospital systems and ophthalmology groups require an active state credential before they'll extend an offer. Starting the licensing process during your final semester prevents the common gap where your OPT is running but you can't legally work yet.
Target academic medical centers with established immigration programs
Large academic hospitals and university-affiliated eye institutes routinely sponsor H-1B visa petitions for allied health roles. Their HR teams understand LCA requirements and often absorb filing costs as a standard recruitment benefit.
Use Migrate Mate to line up your H-1B filing before OPT expires
The H-1B cap-gap rule only protects your status if your petition is filed before April 1 of the lottery year. Migrate Mate walks you through the employer filing timeline so you don't miss the registration window while managing your clinical caseload.
Clarify your O*NET specialty occupation classification with your employer
Orthoptist maps to a specific O*NET code that supports specialty occupation status, but some HR teams default to broader allied health titles that weaken the petition. Confirm that your job description and the SOC code on the LCA match the orthoptist classification before your employer submits.
Orthoptist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an orthoptist in the U.S. on OPT without a state license?
No. Every state that recognizes orthoptists as a licensed profession requires an active credential before you can provide direct patient care. You can accept a job offer while your license application is pending, but your start date will be tied to licensure approval. Check your target state's medical board requirements as soon as you have a program completion date, because processing times vary by state.
Does an orthoptist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Orthoptist positions require at minimum a bachelor's degree in orthoptics or a closely related field, which satisfies the specialty occupation definition under USCIS standards. The O*NET profile for orthoptists places the role in Job Zone 4, supporting the degree requirement. Your employer's job description should reflect clinical duties that are consistent with that credential requirement to avoid a Request for Evidence.
How do I find orthoptist employers on OPT who have sponsored visas before?
Search the OFLC Wage Search tool using the orthoptist SOC code to see which employers have certified LCAs in recent years. Academic medical centers, pediatric hospitals, and multi-location ophthalmology groups appear most frequently. Migrate Mate also surfaces employers with active visa sponsorship history, so you can filter your job search to practices already familiar with the process.
What happens to my OPT if my orthoptist job offer is rescinded after I've started?
You have a 60-day unemployment grace period during standard OPT and up to 90 days during a STEM OPT extension. If your offer falls through, you can use that window to secure a new qualifying position without losing your authorized status. Report any employment changes to your DSO promptly, because unreported gaps can create compliance issues that complicate a future H-1B petition.
Does working part-time as an orthoptist satisfy OPT employment requirements?
Yes, for standard OPT, part-time work of at least 20 hours per week in a position directly related to your degree qualifies as authorized employment. During a STEM OPT extension, USCIS requires full-time employment with an E-Verify enrolled employer, so a part-time arrangement alone would not meet the extension requirements. Confirm your employer's E-Verify enrollment before accepting a STEM OPT position.