Certification/Payment Scale: CRA vs. COMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429289 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 02:08:15 GMT Thu, 10 May 2018 20:09:52 GMT Copyright © 2018 Ophthalmic Photographers' Society Certification/Payment Scale: CRA vs. COMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429289 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429289 Hello everyone,

I need your help/input.

I am CRA certified and have twenty years of experience providing specialized services in photography, among other things. Recently, I realized I am the lowest paid in my institute because everybody else is COMT (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist).

I am wondering how is it like in the place you work, in terms of your payment scale as compared to other technologists? How does it work in your case? Are CRAs more/less valued?

I couldn't find this kind of information by searching online. If you could share some insights, that could give me a general understanding of the industry.

Thank you very much.

Pat

]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 21:12:31 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429290 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429290
There is a salary survey that the OPS did a few years ago that might help. Since you are a member, you should be able to search for it and find it. Let me know if you have trouble locating it.]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 21:21:47 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429307 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429307
I found it, the 2013 OPS Salary Survey. Thank you very much for referring to this. Have there been any more recent surveys done just wondering?

Thanks again.

Patrick]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 21:58:31 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429310 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429310 I hope the survey helps. You should make a list of everything you do for the institution, including any study protocol certifications you hold.
]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 22:04:28 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429332 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429332
In addition to CRA, I also have COT and a BSc. However, I am only paid as a COT and my CRA has not been considered at all. The Hospital regards COMT as the experts for all fields and requested me to get COMT if I want to be bumped up in pay, even I am the go-to expert for photography by doctors. You can imagine how discouraging this is. I am in Ontario, Canada.

Do you might have any bench-marking information for Canada? If you have any advice in my situation, that would be much appreciated.

Thank you very much.

Patrick]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 23:47:23 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429344 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429344
Respectfully,
Denice Barsness ( CRA 1980, COMT 1990, CDOS 2001, ROUB 2000 )]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2018 01:44:01 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429354 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1429354 Thank you for your insights, Denice.

 

 

Just quickly, is there any comparison between COMT vs. CRA/COT in this survey? What does it tell?

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

Quote:
Originally posted by D. Barsness, CRA, COMT, ROUB, CDOS, FOPS:
The ATPO Salary survey of 2018 clearly shows that the COMT/ CDOS/ROUB Manager in addition to the imager is the highest paid in the office. As I have advocated for over two decades now, as much diversity as possible in your skill set will be your best job insurance. I would advise all OPS members to also join ATPO and become multiskilled and informed. This group partners with JCAHPO with a 20K plus strong membership. With the rise of digital imaging and the perception that it is a push button technology ( I'm not saying that it is) and the demise of angiography/ICG across the board over 16% according to a recent AAO survey, you will find more and more that the physician is asking for more biometric centric skills. The highest paid person? The Ophthalmic Information Manager ( thank Mark Maio for coining that term) I also wear that hat here in San Francisco and it's about a 15K bump in pay right there.

Respectfully,
Denice Barsness ( CRA 1980, COMT 1990, CDOS 2001, ROUB 2000 )


]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2018 02:33:47 GMT https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1431711 https://www.opsweb.org/forums/posts.aspx?topic=1431711
With that being said, we both had job opportunities lined up, but to make the move beyond $15 an hour at my current employer I had to give my 2 weeks notice. I had fully prepared myself to take a position at the Moran Eye Center in SLC (I'm currently in Provo, just south a ways from there) for $21.30 (ish) and basically a 7% 401k. They panicked, I got my raise, we worked it out, and we're in a contract that continues to increase my pay at a rate higher than the increase of cost of living for the next 5 years.

Unfortunately most MD's, to my knowledge, have less business education than most traditionally trained professional photographers. Personally I've had more business classes through my Bachelors degree than my three physicians have had combined, and when you add my Masters I had even more, They're just unaware of business things, in some cases. Others might have an MBA, but at the end of the day, the more you make the less that they make.

If more people would be willing to re-locate to go to a new employer, more employers would realize they need to be more aggressive in employee retention. They also may not realize what your training and skills qualify you for, having something comparable for them to see can help with that.

You can also relate how the JCAHPO certificants simply don't have the photography and OCT training that OCT-C's and CRA's have, not by a LONNNNNNNNNG shot, at least specific to the certifications.]]> Thu, 10 May 2018 21:09:52 GMT