Orthoptic Training Certificate

Medical Director: Laura Enyedi, MD
Program Director: Namita Kashyap, CO, MBA

Website: dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/education-and-training/orthoptic-fellowship-program

The Duke Orthoptic Fellowship Program is a 24-month, full-time allied health certificate program accredited by the American Orthoptic Council (AOC). Offered through the Duke School of Medicine, the program prepares students for a rewarding career in vision care by combining academic coursework with extensive hands-on clinical training.

Over the 24-month program, students receive instruction from experienced orthoptists and ophthalmologists, completing at least 2,000 clinical hours and a minimum of 1,200 patient encounters across diverse clinical settings. Training emphasizes the diagnosis and management of binocular vision disorders, amblyopia, and strabismus, blending essential knowledge with hands-on experience.

The program begins once each year, with orientation and classes starting in early September. It spans 24 instructional months and includes 12 days of personal leave per year. During the initial three months of the program, students begin supervised clinical rotations alongside core curriculum lectures. These early clinical experiences take place in various subspecialty departments, where students observe, learn, and apply skills specific to orthoptics, pediatric ophthalmology, and neuro-ophthalmology. Training is conducted under the close supervision of Certified Orthoptists, Pediatric Ophthalmologists, and Neuro-ophthalmologists, with ongoing evaluations to monitor and support students’ skill development throughout the program.

Upon satisfactory completion of the curriculum, students receive a certificate from Duke University School of Medicine and are required to take the American Orthoptic Council (AOC) national board exams (written, oral, and practical). Passing the exams earns national certification as a “Certified Orthoptist” (C.O.).