According to the Vision Council of America, approximately 75% of adults in the U.S. use some sort of vision correction.
This static is important because it shows there’s a great need for optician professionals to care for these patients and help them see better.
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Cost Averages
- One Year’s Tuition: $600 – $4,000
- Two-year Accredited Program: $4,000 – $10,000+
What Is An Optician?
Opticians are professionals that work closely with optometrists to help patients have better eyesight.
Part of the job of an optician is to follow the optometrist and the ophthalmologists’ prescriptions and help patients find the perfect glasses or contact lenses that will fit their needs and match their tastes best.
Opticians don’t write prescriptions or diagnose eye conditions, but they take part in eye care and eyesight correction.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, for opticians, the median annual wage was $37,570 per year and $18.06 per hour in May 2021.
What Are The Responsibilities/Duties Of An Optician?
According to VocationalTrainingHQ.com, the major duties and responsibilities of an optician include:
- Obtaining patient prescriptions.
- Taking customer information and measurements.
- Adjusting and fitting frames.
- Preparing work orders for Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.
- Keeping inventory.
- Performing administrative duties.
What Are The Costs Of Optician Programs?
The cost of an optician program can vary depending on many factors such as the duration of the program and level of specialization, the school if you are an in-state resident or out-state student, and the state where the school is located.
People don’t need a specific degree to become an optician, but on-the-job training programs take about two years to complete.
The preferred optician program option is the two-year associate’s degree, but there are also optician programs that can take a year.
Typically, a year’s tuition for an optician program can cost from $600 to $4,000.
For a two-year optician program accredited through the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation at a community college can cost around $4,000 to $10,000 or more.
Extra Expenses
- Books and supplies vary by school but the average cost is $300 to $800 per year.
- Professionals that want an optician license have to take the American Board of Opticianry (ABO). The National Opticianry Competency Exam (NOCE) or the Contact Lens Registry Examination (NCLE) also offer certifications at $150 each.
- Study packages with audiotapes and workbooks for the certification test can cost around $400.
What Are The Best Schools That Offer Optician Programs?
People who want to become an optician and become licensed need to complete an optician program accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA).
This list below names the Opticianry Degree and Ophthalmic Laboratory Certificate programs currently accredited by COA:
| School | Location |
| Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology | Boston, MA |
| Broward College | Coconut Creek, FL |
| Camden County College | Blackwood, NJ |
| College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham, NC |
| Erie Community College | Williamsville, NY |
| Essex County College | Newark, NJ |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL |
| Miami Dade College | Miami, FL |
| Middlesex Community College | Middletown, CT |
| New York City College of Technology | Brooklyn, NY |
| Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro, GA |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Somerville, NJ |
| Reynolds Community College | Richmond, VA |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman, TN |
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | Albuquerque, NM |
| Tri-Service Optician School | Yorktown, VA |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA |
The best optician programs in the U.S. are:
| School | Location | Type | Duration | Tuition and Fees |
| American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Private (for-profit) | 2-4 years | $37,019 |
| Goodwin College | East Hartford, CT | Private (not-for-profit) | 4 or more years | $21,198 |
| Middlesex Community College | Middletown, CT | Public | 2-4 years | $4,476 (in-state) $13,428 (out-of-state) |
| Broward College | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Public | 4 or more years | $2,830 (in-state) $8,952 (out-of-state) |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach, FL | Public | 4 or more years | $3,106 (in-state) $11,994 (out-of-state) |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | Public | 2-4 years | $2,506 (in-state) $9,111 (out-of-state) |
| Miami Dade College | Miami, FL | Public | 4 or more years | $2,838 (in-state) $9,661 (out-of-state) |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
| Valdosta, GA | Public | 2-4 years | $3,152 (in-state) $5,552 (out-of-state) |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN | Public | 2-4 years | $4,637 (in-state) $8,927 (out-of-state) |
| Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology | Boston, MA | Private (not-for-profit) | 4 or more years | $17,550 |
