Tennessee is one of only twenty-three states that require optician licensing by law.

You must have completed a two-year board-approved opticianry program, or you may opt to complete a three-year apprenticeship training program. The Tennessee Board of Opticianry requires applicants for licensure to have successfully taken the ABO-NCLE exams.

Becoming an optician is an extremely difficult yet rewarding process, as it requires significant in-depth training. This process takes 2-3 years of hands-on training to complete. It also requires testing to verify you have the skills and knowledge needed to successfully dispense glasses and contact lenses.

To become an Apprentice Optician in Florida you must:

1. Apply online or submit a completed application. Select “Apply Online” to begin your application.
2. Submit the required registration fee.
3. Submit a completed Sponsor Registration Form.
4. Submit a copy of high school diploma, transcript or equivalency certificate.

Opticians typically have a high school diploma or equivalent and receive some form of on-the-job training. Some opticians enter the occupation with an associate’s degree or a certificate from a community college or technical school. About half of the states require opticians to be licensed.

Opticians made a median salary of $37,840 in 2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $49,170 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $30,050.

Opticians help fit consumers for eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists. They also help those patients select a pair of lenses or contacts. Not only does this make the job fun and creative, but Opticianry is also a booming industry with a bright job outlook!

The typical Walmart Apprentice Optician salary is $17 per hour. Apprentice Optician salaries at Walmart can range from $13 – $24 per hour.

How Much Does an Optician Make? Opticians made a median salary of $37,840 in 2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $49,170 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $30,050.

Now that we’ve been through the easiest school to join, let’s discover the best optometry schools to join.

1. University of Alabama At Birmingham School of Optometry.
2. University of Houston College of Optometry.
3. Michigan College of Optometry.
4. Oklahoma College of Optometry.
5. Indiana University School of Optometry.

If you would rather complete a training program at a technical or community college, Georgia has a few that you can consider: Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offers an eyewear dispensing specialist certificate, opticianry diploma and an opticianry degree.

Ogeechee Technical College. At Ogeechee Technical College, students have the option of completing an opticianry diploma or an AAS degree in opticianry. The diploma program takes five semesters to complete, and a minimum of 59 credit hours need to be taken. Additionally, 1560 clinical hours are required.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offers an eyewear dispensing specialist certificate, opticianry diploma and an opticianry degree. All three can be taken at the Valdosta campus location. The eyewear dispensing specialist certificate program provides students with the basic skills and knowledge to work as an optician.

The National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) is the national organization dedicated to the promotion of formal opticianry education offered by accredited educational institutions. Formal education is fundamental to the credibility of the Optician as a vision care professional.