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1933 Career Guide

Navy

1933: Optometry Officer Candidate

Career transition guide for Navy Optometry Officer Candidate (1933)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1933 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Optometrist

$125K
High matchStable demand

Healthcare Administrator

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Healthcare Management CertificationProject Management

Medical and Health Services Manager

$110K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Healthcare AdministrationBudget Management

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

$85K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Sales TrainingPharmaceutical Knowledge

Medical Equipment Sales

$78K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Sales TrainingTechnical Product Knowledge

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1933 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a prospective Medical Service officer specializing in Optometry, you maintain a high degree of situational awareness to quickly assess patients' visual and overall health conditions in diverse settings, which could range from a clinic to a field environment. This includes noting subtle changes in patients' symptoms, medical history, and environmental factors that could impact their vision.

Your ability to quickly synthesize information from multiple sources, anticipate potential problems, and adapt your approach based on evolving circumstances translates directly into a civilian environment. This skill allows you to effectively manage complex situations, identify critical details, and make informed decisions, even under pressure.

Rapid Prioritization

In a medical environment, especially under field conditions, you must rapidly prioritize patients based on the urgency and severity of their visual or related medical needs. This involves quickly triaging individuals, determining who needs immediate attention, and efficiently allocating resources.

Your experience in rapidly prioritizing tasks, especially in high-pressure environments, demonstrates your ability to handle multiple competing demands efficiently. This is invaluable in any role requiring quick decision-making, resource management, and the ability to maintain composure while addressing urgent issues.

Procedural Compliance

As a Medical Service officer in training, you adhere strictly to medical protocols, safety regulations, and legal guidelines when providing patient care. This includes following established procedures for examinations, prescriptions, and documentation to ensure accuracy and patient safety.

Your dedication to following established protocols and regulations ensures consistent and accurate results. This is highly valuable in civilian roles that demand precision, attention to detail, and adherence to industry standards, especially in regulated environments.

Resource Optimization

During your training and later as an optometrist, you are responsible for optimizing the use of limited medical resources, including diagnostic equipment, medications, and personnel. This may involve finding creative solutions to provide the best possible care given available resources.

Your experience in optimizing resource allocation makes you adept at finding cost-effective and efficient solutions in any operational setting. This skill is particularly valuable in roles that require strategic planning, budgeting, and the ability to maximize productivity with limited resources.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111.00

You've been trained in the Navy to assess and prioritize medical needs, adhere to strict protocols, and optimize resources. Your experience directly translates into managing the operational efficiency of healthcare facilities, ensuring quality patient care, and complying with regulatory standards. You can oversee budgets, coordinate staff, and implement policies to improve healthcare delivery.

Regulatory Affairs Specialist

SOC 13-1041.00

You've learned the importance of adhering to medical protocols and regulations during your time as a Medical Service officer. This makes you uniquely qualified to work with regulatory agencies, ensuring compliance with healthcare laws, standards, and guidelines. You can help companies navigate complex regulatory landscapes, prepare submissions, and maintain regulatory approvals.

Quality Assurance Manager

SOC 11-3051.00

You've honed your attention to detail and commitment to procedural compliance as an optometry officer. You can now apply those skills to maintain and improve the quality of products or services in various industries. You'll be responsible for developing and implementing quality control systems, conducting audits, and identifying areas for improvement, ensuring that products or services meet or exceed customer expectations.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Medical Service Corps Officer Basic Course (MSCOBC), Naval Medical Leader & Professional Development Command, Bethesda, MD

160 training hours4 weeksUp to 2 semester hours recommended in Healthcare Management

Topics Covered

  • Naval Medical Department Orientation
  • Military Medical Ethics
  • Operational Medicine
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Medical Legal Issues
  • Leadership and Management Principles

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)25% covered

Requires additional study in medical coding specific to optometry practices, including ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding, as well as billing and reimbursement procedures. Also needs knowledge on compliance and regulatory requirements.

Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS)20% covered

Requires more focused training on health information technology, electronic health records (EHR) implementation, and healthcare data management. Understanding of specific optometry-related technologies is needed.

Recommended Next Certifications

Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO)Diplomate, American Board of Optometry

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
NAVSSES (Navy Standard Support Equipment System)Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems management
TRICARE OnlinePatient portal and appointment scheduling software (e.g., Zocdoc, Epic MyChart)
Spectacle Request Transmission System (SPECTRAS)Optical lab management software and prescription processing systems
Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS)Hospital inventory management systems (e.g., Infor, GHX)
Joint Medical Asset Repository (JMAR)Medical equipment tracking and maintenance software

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