Orthoptist
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Orthoptists work alongside ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat eye disorders by performing specialized eye tests to measure and assess defective binocular vision or abnormal eye movement in patients. They prescribe treatment such as eye exercises or patching regimens. (National Occupational Classification).
Orthoptists commonly work in pediatric ophthalmology settings... because of the nature of many binocular disorders, many patients are children. Adult care in the field of Orthoptics is uniquely challenging and rewarding, found in settings of ophthalmology specific to neuro-ophthalmology and adult eye muscle disorders. (American Association of Certified Orthoptists)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- What Do Orthoptists Do? - The Canadian Orthoptic Society
- Professional Role of the Orthoptist - International Orthoptics Association
- What is Orthoptics / an Orthoptist? - American Association of Certified Orthoptists
- What Orthoptists do - EyeCareProfessions.com
- Your Ophthalmologist and the Vision Care Team - overview of vision care professions from the Canadian Ophthalmological Society
- Day in the Life of an Orthoptist (video) - from Career Box (U.K.)
- Interview: 60 Seconds with an Orthoptist - from Health Times (Australia)
- Profile of the Professional Role of the Orthoptist - overview and video from the Orthoptic Council of Europe
- How do I become an Orthoptist? - The Canadian Orthoptic Society
Education
Entry to a Canadian Orthoptic education program requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited Canadian university or an international equivalent. Programs are 24 months of intensive academic studies and concurrent clinical experience guided by a national curriculum and competency profile. (The Canadian Orthoptic Society)
Though the University of Manitoba does not offer training in Orthoptics, students may choose to complete their required undergraduate study at the university before applying to an accredited Orthoptics program. View the links below for additional training information.
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
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Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Collective Agreements (Health Sciences Centre, etc.) - Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals
- European Demographics- practicing members - Orthoptic Council of Europe
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Canadian Orthoptic Council
- The Canadian Orthoptic Society (TCOS)
- American Association of Certified Orthoptists
- International Orthoptic Association
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Regional Health Authorities - Province of Manitoba
- Health Regions in Canada - listings and maps from Statistics Canada
- Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres - members
- Find an Orthoptist - TCOS member sites
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience:
- University of Manitoba Undergraduate Leaders in Healthcare - campus student group
- Article: How Orthoptists play a role in craniofacial syndrome therapy - Ophthalmology Times
- Article: I didn't know stroke affected eyes' - BBC News
- Physician Data Centre - Physician Workforce Surveys,
- Health Data & Reports - Canadian Centre for Health Information
- Health Care Career Guide - from TalentEgg.ca