How to Get Certified as an Optician

Opticians help people purchase the right prescription glasses.

Opticians practice alongside optometrists and other eye care professionals, as well as work in eyeglass stores. Opticians need to be educated and certified in order to provide customers with corrective lenses. They also help train patients in how glasses or contacts are to be worn and used. As a result, these professionals need to stay current with updates and changes in the field.

Instructions

1. Register in a college program that trains opticians. This typically requires two years of full time study, although part time study options may also be available. Most programs award an associate's degree upon completion. In some states, it is possible to substitute an accredited optician training program instead of an apprenticeship requirement for certification as an optician. As of 2011, 14 states are home to degree programs accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation.

2. Complete your courses and graduate from your program. Courses will include the study of mathematics and physics as they apply to optic science as well as specialized training in the tools and equipment used in the daily work of an optician.

3. Check with the state board of opticians to find out how to apply for certification. Your educational program will have the contact information and requirements in the state it is located in. However, if you wish to work as an optician in a state other than the one in which you get your education, look into the certification requirements on your own to ensure that your education qualifies you.

4. Meet the requirements of full certification. In some states this requires completion of a certain number of apprenticeship hours in addition to, or instead of a formal education program. As always, check the requirements with your state.

5. Take optional certification courses offered by the American Board of Opticianry. Even if your state doesn't require you to have a certification, some employers might. In addition, certification will help you get jobs or attract customers in your own business, offering you a large boost to your career.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain your certification by checking the requirements for ongoing education with your state. If you fail to take a certain amount of education every year, you can lose your certification. In Vermont, for example, you must take 10 hours of continuing education every two years.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Opticians, Dispensing
• Professional Opticians of Florida: Becoming a Florida Licensed Optician
• Durham Technical Community College: Question and Answers About Opticianry
• Opticians Association of America: State License and Examination Requirements
• American Board of Opticianry: Why Be Certified?
• Learn 4 Good: Dispensing Optician Careers

Resources

• Education-Portal.com: How to Become an Optician Technician
• Commission on Opticianry Accreditation: Programs