High school and college courses in biology, physics, anatomy, mathematics, physiology, child development, and psychology offer useful background for the study of orthoptics. Orthoptics programs are clinically oriented. Students spend much of their time examining patients in a clinical setting, usually in a hospital, or private, or group practice associated with a medical school. Students work under the supervision of a certified orthoptist and ophthalmologist. The course work takes two years.
Students also attend lectures regularly.
Most orthoptic candidates are required to research and present a scientific paper at a regional meeting as a second-year project. Students granted advanced standing may complete training in one year. All programs are accredited by the American Orthoptic Council. Credentials, Organizations, and Unions Orthoptists who successfully complete training in an accredited program become eligible to sit for a national board examination offered by the American Orthoptic Council. The national board examination consists of two parts.