Transitioning from retail to medical-tips & suggestions

[c'est la vie]

I've been a dispensing optician for just over a decade. My real interest lies in the medical side of things. In addition to getting my CPO certifications, what else would help my chances of landing such a gig? Should I send out resumes now or wait until I get the certifications?
I really want this, but want to go about it the right way. I'm also interested in hearing from anyone who has made the move from retail to medical Dr's office ( or the other way around)

THanks!

[chip anderson]

a: learn to smile and say: "Yes, Doctor."
b: If you are male get a job as road salesman for a CL company, in a year you can be hired away as an "Expert"
c: If female, Smile and wear a mini-skirt.
d: Find an eye doctor who is a relative, at least a cousin.
e: Often if you can land the job the doctor's office will pay for your Jacopo/COT hours.

[c'est la vie]

Hmmm...looks like the odds are against me. I'm not related to anyone in the optical field, and you don't want to see me in a mini skirt :)

[rbaker]

Check this web site out (http://www.jcahpo.org/) and then call on local MD's for an entry level position. Don't expect big bucks initially as you will not be able to pull your own weight but if you have any tallent at all you should be able to steadily increase your earnings as you gain more skills.

[cleyes]

Hmmm...looks like the odds are against me. I'm not related to anyone in the optical field, and you don't want to see me in a mini skirt :)

Actually you have a lot to offer in a medical office vis a vis your fantastic optical experience......that's what you sell. You will be the go to person who troubleshoots patients' eyeglass problems, whether newly purchased or newly rx'd, or poorly fit making it impossible for good function. This is a very valuable talent in an MD's office, it will relieve the MD of a lot of "wasted" time better spent seeing pts with medical issues. With your optician's background, learning refracting should be easy, start reading now.
So you see, you have valuable talents!

[chip anderson]

Would get an ophthamic dictionary though. Then when the doctor says something that's in his vocabulary and not in yours you can go look it up when he leaves. Avoided looking stupid this way many, many times.

Chip