Central Piedmont Community College and Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. (CEENTA) are deepening their longstanding partnership with the launch of a new apprenticeship program. This innovative six-month, earn-while-you-learn program is designed to prepare students for careers as certified ophthalmic assistants — a critical but often understaffed role in the eye care industry.

In collaboration with Central Piedmont’s ophthalmic medical personnel (OMP) program, the new apprenticeship offers a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on training in state-of-the-art labs, and immersive clinical experience at CEENTA locations across the region. Participants will receive paid clinical training while gaining practical experience in specialties such as general ophthalmology, retina, cornea, glaucoma, pediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology and oculoplastics.

A three-phase pathway to certification and employment 

The program includes three phases:

• Starting Aug. 18, students will begin their journey at the North Carolina college’s Central Campus, learning medical terminology, ophthalmic science, and clinical techniques in a 15,000 sq. ft. simulation center under the instruction of nationally accredited faculty.
• As the program progresses, participants will split their time between OMP coursework and real-world experience in CEENTA clinics.
• The final phase features full clinical immersion and side-by-side training with CEENTA’s physicians and technicians.

Graduates will be eligible to sit for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) exam and will receive a guaranteed job offer at CEENTA upon successful completion. In return, participants commit to a two-year employment agreement as full-time ophthalmic assistants.

“This partnership represents a powerful step forward in addressing the growing demand for skilled eye care professionals,” said Kathleen Rodgers, Central Piedmont’s department chair of ophthalmic medical personnel. “By combining CEENTA’s clinical excellence with Central Piedmont’s educational leadership, we’re creating a sustainable pipeline of eye care workers who are ready to make an immediate impact in patient care. It’s a win for students, a win for our community, and a win for the future of healthcare.”

A community-centered solution to a workforce shortage

Since 2013, CEENTA has been a clinical partner of the college’s ophthalmic medical personnel program, hiring graduates from the program’s earliest cohorts. The new apprenticeship directly addresses the region’s growing need for qualified eye care professionals. For the first time, CEENTA will sponsor tuition, fees and books for selected apprentices, eliminating financial barriers for those eager to enter the field.

CEENTA has also partnered with Central Piedmont since 2017 on the Angie Madigan Ophthalmic Medical Assisting (OMA) Scholarship, which is available to students enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in the ophthalmic medical personnel program.

“Together, we’re opening a path for individuals to develop practical skills and launch meaningful careers in eye care — supporting CEENTA’s doctors in delivering the highest quality care to patients across the region,” CEENTA Chief Operating Officer Judy Moore said.

This article was originally published here.