Optometric Tech advantage for admissions?

[EyeSee20]

How do schools generally view Optometric tech positions? Should shadowing be considered separate from it?

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[FuturaOptometrista]

How do schools generally view Optometric tech positions? Should shadowing be considered separate from it?

It depends on the school. Some schools require shadowing hours (described as “non-paid”) and others don’t distinguish between the two. Your best bet is to look at the admission criteria for the schools that you are interested in and see what they require/want. Also, depending on the amount of experience you have as a tech, some schools waive the shadowing criteria if they have it.

 

[Toofar]

Having tech experience can only help you It may not satisfy shadowing hours, but won't hurt you at all. I had enough that Pacific waived the hours for me. In all my interviews, my time being a technician was brought up positively

 

[optometrygirl29]

Hey! I was a tech for a very long time before going to school. I had a weak app/gpa at best which I had an explanation for but I at least got 5 schools to show interest due to my level of experience in the field. I got 3 interviews waitlisted at 2 an accepted to IAUPR and im pretty sure it was more so because of my experience and not my academic record. I had experience in more than one modality of optometry (commercial, private and OD/OMD practices)....some schools don't care at all about it and others value it.

 

[jonizzy]

I used my time working to satisfy shadowing, no one asked me about it. If you did more than check vision/non-contact tonometry and basic intake, be sure to work it in to your personal statement and interview. Being a tech is an edge but you have to make sure you sell yourself well. A lot of people casually worked as techs and didn't really take advantage of the opportunity.