Becoming an optician is a lengthy process with specific steps, such as applying for and completing required training, joining professional organizations, and earning a license.
However, every state has different licensure and continuing education requirements, with some states not accepting online credit.
Therefore, before becoming an optician, it’s important to understand each state’s requirements so that you are compliant to start or continue working in the field.
Keep reading to learn more!
States Requiring an Optician’s License
Alaska
The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development manages the licensing for candidates who pass the National Opticianry Competency (NOC) Examination offered by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO), and the Contact Lens Registry (CLR) Examination, provided by the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE).
The State requires 10 hours of continuing education credits every two years or 20 hours every two years for those with dual licensing in spectacles and contact lenses.
Arizona
The Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians manages the licensure in the State.
Candidates must pass the NOC Exam for eyeglasses and the CLR Exam for dispensing contacts.
The State also requires 12 hours of continuing education credits every three years to maintain the license.
Arkansas
The Arkansas State Board of Dispensing Opticians administers a state practical and written exam that is required to become licensed and work in the State.
Licensed opticians must maintain their licensure by completing 5 hours of continuing education each year.
California
Issued by the California State Board of Optometry, licensure candidates must pass the NOC and CLR Exams to work in the State.
California is one of the few states that doesn’t have any continuing education requirements for license renewal.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the regulating board for optician licensure in the State.
Candidates must pass the NOC and CLR Exams as well as a state practical exam to become licensed.
Opticians are required to complete seven hours of continuing education every year to ensure their license is current.
Florida
The Florida Department of Health Board of Opticianry regulates state optician licensure.
Candidates must pass the NOC and CLR Exams.
The state also requires applicants to pass a practical examination to showcase their skills.
Opticians must take 20 hours of continuing education credits every two years, with a maximum of five hours of Internet coursework, every two years.
Georgia
Located in Macon, the Georgia State Board of Dispensing Opticians issues and renews licenses to new and existing opticians.
Applicants must pass the NOC and CLR Exams and a state practical examination.
Georgia requires 10 hours of continuing education coursework every two years.
Hawaii
Although the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs doesn’t require any continuing education credits once licensed, applicants must pass the NOC, CLR, and state practical exams.
Licenses must be renewed every two years.
Kentucky
Licenses in Kentucky are issued by the Department of Professional Licensing in Frankfort.
Applicants must pass the NOC, CLR, and state practical examinations.
Opticians must complete six hours of continuing education credits every year, with no online credits being acceptable.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Board of Registration for Dispensing Opticians regulates all related licensure.
First, candidates must pass the NOC, CLR, and state practical exam, then provide the results to the regulating body.
Existing opticians are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education classes every two years, all of which can be completed online.
Nevada
Licensing is issued by the State of Nevada Board of Dispensing Opticians.
Potential opticians must pass the NOC, CLR, and state practical examinations to become licensed and work in the State.
Nevada continuing education requirements differ based on the licensure, which includes:
Full/Dual Ophthalmic Dispense License – 14 hours of continuing education credits every year, with at least seven hours related to contact lenses.
Limited Ophthalmic Dispense – 12 hours of credits per year, with at least six related to contact lenses.
New Hampshire
The Office of Professional Licensure & Certification does not require passing any examinations to earn a license.
Candidates simply need to apply and register with the State.
New Hampshire requires eight hours of continuing education credits every two years, with all credits available through online courses, as of April 2024.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Technicians only requires candidates to pass a state examination to become licensed.
To maintain the license, opticians must complete 12 hours of training every two years with at least five hours related to spectacles, three hours related to contact lenses, two hours of state statutes, two hours of business management, and one hour of bloodborne pathogens.
New York
To earn a license in New York from the State Education Department, applicants must pass the NOC, CLR, and state practical examinations.
Ophthalmic dispensers must complete 18 hours of continuing education credits every three years, and ophthalmic dispenser and contact lens practitioners must finish 20 hours every three years.
Those focused only on contact lenses must finish 10 hours in three years.
North Carolina
North Carolina opticians’ licenses are issued by the State Board of Opticians.
Candidates must pass the NOC exam, a practical exam from the ABO, the CLR exam, and a practical exam from the NCLE.
Opticians are required to keep their license in good standing by completing eight hours of continuing education every year.
Four hours must be related to spectacles, three hours dedicated to contact lenses, and one hour of board instruction.
Ohio
The Vision Professionals Board manages optician licensure in Ohio.
Candidates must pass the NOC and CLR exams to be eligible.
Twelve hours of continuing education credits are required for licensed spectacle dispensing opticians every two years.
Licensed spectacle-contact dispensing opticians must complete 24 hours of credits every two years.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island State Department of Health issues optician licenses for those who have passed the NOC and ABO practical examinations.
All licensed opticians must complete 12 hours of continuing education credits every two years, and internet classes are acceptable.
South Carolina
The Board of Examiners in Opticianry is the license-issuing body in South Carolina.
To be eligible for a license, candidates must pass the NOC and South Carolina Practical Opticianry examinations.
Licensed opticians must complete four hours of continuing education courses to maintain their license.
Opticians with a contact lens license must complete four hours of continuing education every year.
Tennessee
Candidates applying for an optician’s license with the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians must pass the NOC, NCLR, and Tennessee Dispensing Optician examinations.
To maintain the license, opticians must complete nine hours of continuing education coursework every year.
Vermont
The Vermont Secretary of State issues licenses to applicants who have passed the NOC and state practical examinations.
Licensed opticians must take 10 hours of continuing education classes every two years, with Internet coursework being acceptable.
Virginia
The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation does not require any continuing education credits for licensed opticians.
To become licensed, the State requires candidates to pass the NOC and NCLR written and practical examinations.
Washington
The Washington State Department of Health – License and Renewals Department requires applicants to pass one of the following:
- ABO-NCLE advanced competency, advanced contact lens, and practical examinations.
- Basic competency, basic contact lens, and ABO-NCLE practical exams.
- Washington State examination.
States That Do Not Require Licensure but Mandate Certification or Training
Colorado
Colorado does not have state licensing or board requirements, but one must be certified.
ABO and NCLE Board Certified opticians and technicians must renew certification every three years based on the following requirements:
- ABO Certified – must earn 12 continuing education credits with at least six hours of ABO-approved ophthalmic courses.
- NCLE Certified – must earn 18 hours with nine hours of NCLE-approved ophthalmic coursework.
- Jointly Certified – must complete nine ABO-approved credits and 12 NCLE-approved credit hours.
Delaware
Delaware also does not have state licensing or board requirements to become an optician, but one must be certified.
Delaware’s continuing education requirements to keep certification in good standing match Colorado’s requirements above.
Idaho
The State of Idaho does not require licensure for opticians, but does require ABO and/or NCLE certification.
The continuing education requirements are identical in Colorado and Delaware for opticians to renew their certification.
Illinois
Illinois only requires ABO and/or NCLE Board certification.
The certification renewal period is three years, and the requirements match Colorado and most other states.
Indiana
Indiana does not have any state license or board requirements, but requires national certification from the ABO or NCLE, or both, depending on the professional’s focus.
Opticians and technicians must renew certifications every three years and follow the same requirements as all other states.
Iowa
Like Indiana, Iowa does not have optician licensure requirements, only ABO or NCLE certification.
These professionals must follow the three-year certification renewal requirement by completing the same requirements as the other states in this bracket.
Kansas
Kansas does not require a license to work as an optician or technician in the State.
However, the government requires either ABO, NCLE, or both certifications.
These professionals must renew their certification every three years by meeting the same requirements as other states.
Louisiana
There are no state board or licensure requirements for Louisiana-based opticians, but ABO or NCLE certification is required.
Continuing education requirements are the same in Louisiana as in other non-licensure states.
Maine
Maine follows suit with no board or license requirements.
Instead, opticians need to be ABO, NCLE, or hold both certifications to practice.
Renewal is required every three years via continuing education credits, which match the same requirements as other states on this list.
Maryland
Maryland does not have a state board, so there is no licensure requirement.
Opticians must become certified via ABO, NCLE, or both, depending on the professional’s career focus.
The three-year renewal requirements follow suit with non-licensure states.
Michigan
Although the State of Michigan does not have any optician licensure requirements, opticians must be certified by the ABO and/or NCLE.
Like all other non-licensure states, Michigan opticians must renew certification every three years to continue to work.
Specific renewal requirements follow other state requirements as well.
Minnesota
Minnesota is another state without a licensing board, so opticians only need to be ABO or NCLE certified to practice.
Renewal requirements are consistent with other non-licensure jurisdictions.
Mississippi
There is no state board in Mississippi, so opticians do not have any licensure requirements.
Instead, they must be ABO or NCLE certified and renew every three years to keep their certification active.
Missouri
Missouri also does not have any optician licensure requirements.
Those who are ABO or NCLE certified must renew everything every three years, with specific guidelines consistent with those of other states on this list.
Montana
Montana is the next State to follow suit with no licensure requirements since a state board does not exist.
Instead, ABO or NCLE certifications are required for opticians to practice.
These certified professionals must renew their certification every three years.
ABO certifications require earning 12 continuing education credits, while NCLE-certified opticians complete 18 credits.
Those who are jointly certified must finish nine ABO credits and 12 NCLE credits.
Nebraska
The State of Nebraska doesn’t have optician licensure requirements.
However, budding opticians must be certified by the ABO, NCLE, or both.
As a result, these professionals must renew their certification every three years by following the same process as the other states on this list.
New Mexico
New Mexico requires opticians to be ABO, NCLE, or certified by both, but doesn’t require a state license.
Also, certified opticians must renew their license every three years by following the same requirements as other states on this list.
North Dakota
North Dakota also only requires one of the three certifications, depending on the career path and focus, but no state licensure is required.
The State also follows the same renewal requirements as Colorado.
Oklahoma
Opticians living in Oklahoma can be relieved that they do not need to go through the state licensure process and only need to become ABO and/or NCLE certified.
Opticians must follow the same process as other states for their three-year renewal.
Oregon
Oregon has no state board, so there is no licensure requirement to work.
Certified opticians must renew their certification by earning the general continuing education credits every three years.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania follows the same continuing education process and has no state board to regulate licenses.
Therefore, opticians only need to be ABO or NCLE certified to work in the State.
South Dakota
South Dakota opticians only need to be certified by one or both of the national organizations to work in the State.
They must also follow the three-year national continuing education requirements.
Texas
Texas does not have an optician state board to issue licenses, so these professionals must only be certified by one or both of the national organizations.
They must also renew their certifications every three years, according to the continuing education requirements set forth by each governing body.
Utah
Utah opticians don’t need a license to work in the State, only a certification from the ABO or NCLE.
Since these are national organizations, they must renew their certification every three years and follow the number of required continuing education credits.
West Virginia
Those seeking to work in West Virginia won’t need a license since there’s no state governing board.
Instead, budding opticians must be certified by the ABO or NCLE and renew the certification every three years through continuing education credits.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin-based opticians need to be certified by the ABO, NCLE, or both to work in the State.
They must also renew their license every three years and fulfill the organization’s required continuing education requirements.
Wyoming
Finally, Wyoming doesn’t have a state governing board to issue licenses, so it relies on the ABO and NCLE to certify opticians.
As a result, these professionals must follow the national continuing education requirements every three years to renew their license.
States With No License Requirement by Employer-Based Standards
Alabama
Although Alabama doesn’t require licensure, opticians must pay a license tax related to the city or two business licenses after two years of practicing in the field.
This is a requirement, regardless of whether you have started your own business or work for an established company.
Since the majority of states don’t require licensure, but have certification requirements, it’s important to understand the distinction between certifications, including:
- ABO Basic Certification – the basic certification is the national standard that covers legal consideration, dispensing procedures, instruments, products, ocular anatomy, and ophthalmic science.
- ABO Certified Optician – the Certified Optician designation is more advanced than the basic certification for opticians with more extensive experience.
- NCLE Certification – this basic certification focuses on contact lens fitting and dispensing, and related technology.
- NCLE Certified Optician – this certification is more advanced than the basic option for contact lens specialists who have extensive experience.
- Master’s in Ophthalmic Optics – the highest designation reserved for those with advanced knowledge of ophthalmic optics.
- Master’s in Contact Lens Technology – the highest certification level for those with superior knowledge of contact lens technology.
