Source: http://www.aoa.org/x11888.xml

Full Survey Results

Active Paraoptometric (PS) Member Survey 2008

The AOA Paraoptometric Section conducted a survey of its active membership in December of 2008. The following results are compiled from those active members who responded. Responses (195) represent about 10% of the PS active membership.

DEMOGRAPHICS

47 % work in a solo practice

3. In what type of practice do you work?
Solo	88	47%
Partnership or group ( 2-person)	33	18%
Partnership or group ( 3-5-person)	37	20%
Partnership or group (6 or more)	24	13%
Retail optical	6	3%
Total	188	100%

83% work for an optometrist

4. For whom do you work?
Optometrist(s)	158	83%
Ophthalmologist(s)	2	1%
HMO	1	1%
Hospital/clinic/other multi-disciplinary	2	1%
Retail optical company	4	2%
Armed Forces, VA, USPHS	9	5%
Educational institution	1	1%
Local/state/other/federal government	3	2%
Optical/ophthalmic manufacturer or wholesaler	1	1%
Other, please specify	9	5%
Total	190	100%

25% have been in the field for over 20 years

5. How much experience have you had in the eye care field?
Less than one year	1	1%
1-4 years	32	17%
5-9 years	49	26%
10-14 years	35	19%
15-19 years	25	13%
20+ years	47	25%
Total	189	100%

The top services they perform for patients are: (80%) receptionist duties. Contact lens dispensing/training (78%), Clinical procedures/pretesting (77%)

6. Check all services you perform:
Dispensing and frame sales	130	68%
Contact lens dispensing/training	148	78%
Clinical procedures/pre-testing	147	77%
Receptionist duties	152	80%
Administrative duties	134	71%
Lab work	54	28%
Contact lens lab	45	24%
Vision therapy	16	8%
Insurance billing	105	55%
Laser vision counseling	45	24%
Contact lens fitting	73	38%
Other, please specify	37	19%

CONTINUING EDUCATION BENEFITS

43% say their employer pays for all expenses, including travel, registration & meals for continuing education/training

7. Does your employer pay for some or all of your professional development/training/continuing education?
Pays all expenses, including travel, registration & meals	79	43%
Pays some expenses for travel, registration & meals	61	33%
Pays course registration fees only	20	11%
Other, please specify	23	13%
Total	183	100%

49% say that both the employer and employee make the final decision on CE courses taken

8. Who makes the final decision for the continuing education courses that you take?
OD	11	6%
You	86	45%
Both	93	49%
Total	190	100%

Travel (66%) and Lodging costs (58%) are the biggest barriers to attending state and national meetings

9. What are your barriers to attending state and national meetings? (Check all that apply)
Travel costs	120	66%
Lodging costs	106	58%
Registration costs	62	34%
No interest in attending	9	5%
Family responsibilities	44	24%
Can’t take time off of work	46	25%
Other, please specify	37	20%

77% say their employer encourages participation in local, state, and national paraoptometric associations

10. Does your employer encourage your participation in local, state or national paraoptometric associations?
Yes	143	77%
No	43	23%
Total	186	100%

58% say their employer pays for their membership in such organizations

11. Who pays for your participation/membership dues in such organizations?
OD	110	58%
You	63	33%
Do not participate	5	3%
Other, please specify	12	6%
Total	190	100%

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

64% work a 25-40 hour work week

12. How long is your average work week?
8-24 hours	6	3%
25-40 hours	123	65%
41-60 hours	59	31%
More than 60 hours	2	1%
Total	190	100%

74% receive health coverage from their employer

13. Does your employer offer health coverage?
Yes	138	74%
No	48	26%
Total	186	100%

Employer pays partial premiums 40% of the time, with 27% of employers paying the entire premium

14. How much does your employer contribute toward your health coverage?
Pays entire premium	50	27%
Pays partial premium	74	40%
Doesn't pay premium	61	33%
Total	185	100%

91% offer holidays with pay, 86% offer vacation with pay, and 61% offer retirement packages

15. What other benefits are offered by your employer? (Check all that apply)
Dental coverage	57	30%
Vision coverage	102	55%
Retirement package	115	61%
Life insurance	58	31%
Pre-tax flex plans	43	23%
Disability insurance	41	22%
Certification/recertification fees	105	56%
Holidays off with pay	170	91%
Holidays off	43	23%
Vacation	51	27%
Vacation with pay	160	86%
Sick leave	101	54%
Personal leave days	96	51%
Flex work schedules	39	21%
Cash bonus and or incentive payments during the last 12 months	105	56%
Other, please specify	11	6%

EMPLOYMENT SATISFACTION

64% say they are very satisfied with their employment

16. How satisfied are you with your employment?
Very satisfied	122	64%
Somewhat satisfied	59	31%
Somewhat dissatisfied	8	4%
Not satisfied	1	1%
Total	190	100%

53% felt that an increase in pay/improved benefits would increase their satisfaction with their employment, 40% felt becoming certified and learning more technical skills would be helpful

17. Please rank the items below using a scale of 1 to 4 describing what could be done to increase your job satisfaction. (No. 1 should indicate the item of most importance; No. 4, the least)
Top number is the count of respondents selecting the option. Bottom % is percent of the total respondents selecting the option.	1	2	3	4
Increase in pay/improved benefits	98	46	24	16
Increase in pay/improved benefits	53%	25%	13%	9%
Becoming certified/learning more technical skills	45	72	39	23
Becoming certified/learning more technical skills	25%	40%	22%	13%
More opportunities offered to staff for obtaining continuing education	52	65	36	23
	30%	37%	20%	13%
Better communication between doctors and staff	62	51	31	37
Better communication between doctors and staff	34%	28%	17%	20%
Other (please specify in question below this one)	9	8	2	14
Other (please specify in question below this one)	27%	24%	6%	42%

CERTIFICATION

67% viewed their job as a profession

19. How do you view your employment? (Check all that apply)
As a job	23	12%
As a career	97	51%
As a profession	127	67%
There is a future here for me	88	47%
There is not a future here for me	8	4%

92% were certified

20. Are you certified or credentialed by an optometric or paraoptometric organization or entity?
Yes	173	92%
No	15	8%
Total	188	100%

95% of those certified were CPC certified

21. If yes, from which organizations do you hold a certification? (Check all that apply)
Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC)	165	95%
American Board of Opticianry (ABO)	31	18%
National Contact Lens Examiners ( NCLE)	11	6%
Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)	6	3%

50% said their employer gave them recognition for becoming certified

22. Did you receive recognition from your employer after becoming certified?
Yes	94	50%
No	40	21%
Does not apply	20	11%
If Yes, please explain.	34	18%
Total	188	100%

36% of those certified were CPC certified at the CPOA level

23. If CPC-certified, at what level are you currently certified?
CPO	56	33%
CPOA	62	36%
CPOT	47	28%
Waiting to take practical	5	3%
Total	170	100%

BASE SALARY

19% made a base salary of more than $35,000 per year

24. What was your base salary during the past year?
Under $12,500	3	2%
$12,501-15,000	11	6%
$15,001-17,500	13	7%
$17,501-20,000	20	11%
$20,001-22,500	25	13%
$22,501- 25,000	27	14%
$25,001-30,000	30	16%
$30,001- 35,000	22	12%
More than $35,000	36	19%
Total	187	100%

PS MEMBER BENEFITS

The top 5 most used AOA PS benefits are AOA Publications (77%), Free Online CE articles (46%), PS newsletter (43%), Reduced registration at OM (36%), and access to Web protected pages (36%)

25. What AOA-PS member benefits have you used in the last 12 months? (Check all that apply)
Online continuing education articles – six free hours each year	78	47%
Article archive for additional CE	35	21%
Speakers’ Bureau for finding speakers for meetings	5	3%
Optometry’s Career Center® for employment opportunities	4	2%
ILAMO for optometry resources	12	7%
Special discounts on credit cards, rental cars, etc.	1	1%
Discounts on education materials for staff training/certification	39	23%
Access to member-protected pages on Web site	53	32%
PS newsletter	72	43%
AOA publications	128	77%
Reduced registration fees at Optometry’s Meeting®	60	36%
Information from member surveys	22	13%
Other, please specify	5	3%

The top 5 most valuable PS member benefits are Online CE articles (90%), AOA publications (62%), Discounts on educational materials (60%), Reduced registration fees at OM (54%), and Article Archive for CE (46%)

26. Choose the top 5 member benefits that you feel are the most valuable from the list below:
Online continuing education articles – six free hours each year	164	90%
Article archive for additional CE	82	45%
Speakers’ Bureau for finding speakers for meetings	19	10%
Optometry’s Career Center® for employment opportunities	41	22%
ILAMO for optometry resources	15	8%
Special discounts on credit cards, rental cars, etc.	29	16%
Discounts on education materials for staff training/certification	112	61%
Access to member-protected pages	48	26%
PS newsletter	71	39%
AOA publications	115	63%
Reduced registration fees at Optometry’s Meeting®	99	54%
Information from surveys	38	21%
Other, please specify	3	2%

The PS would like to thank all that responded.