If you’re one of the many people considering becoming an optician in North Carolina, then you have to read this article!
We gathered information related to the type of training you need for this occupation and not only, so grab a drink!
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Optician Job Description and Duties in North Carolina
Opticians seem to have an easy job as they have to help customers choose the right eyewear for their needs and not only.
Having a look (no pun intended) at their duties, their jobs might seem less easy:
- Preparing eyewear
- Fitting and adjusting eyewear
- Educating customers about eyewear issues and maintenance
- Keeping sales records
- Determining insurance co-pays
- Keeping the inventory
- Interacting with the labs that make lenses
Opticians aren’t qualified to inspect the eyes nor to prescribe eyewear.
Optician Job Requirements in North Carolina
Individuals from North Carolina who want to become opticians in this state need to undergo formal training and receive a license.
Licenses are issued by the North Carolina State Board of Opticians.
Those are not the only requirements that you’ll need to meet.
Employers will also expect you to:
- Have good interpersonal skills
- Be reliable
- Have a clean criminal record
- Be detail-oriented
Optician Education in North Carolina
If you’re interested in which schools in North Carolina offer courses for future opticians, you can see them below.
Top 1 Schools in North Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Durham Technical Community College | 1637 E Lawson St, Durham, NC 27703 |
Durham Technical Community College offers at least 2 types of diplomas:
- A certificate
- An Associates’ degree
The Associates’ degree program has a duration of a minimum of 2 years.
You can also choose to enroll in a program at a college from a different state as well.
You’ll have to pay attention to its accreditation though.
Colleges have rather high expectations when accepting new students in their optometry programs, such as:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Completing specific classes with a minimum grade of C
- 2 letters of recommendation
- OAT scores – not older than 5 years
- Minimum GPA of 2.75
These are just a few of the classes you’ll be attending:
- Introduction to Optometry
- Ocular Anatomy
- Systems 1: Neuroscience
- Ocular Microbiology
- Ophthalmic Imaging
- Public Health Optometry
- Glaucoma
- Physics
Your education as an optician is not complete without an internship.
Regardless of the diploma you earn, you’ll need to enroll in an internship approved by the Board and that has a duration of at least 6 months.
Optician Certification in North Carolina
You can become licensed as soon as you complete your training, including the internship.
The licensure exam takes place twice every year.
The Board has a list of documents needed for the license, on its website.
This license has to be renewed every year.
Many individuals choose to pass the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE) through the ABO as well.
Candidates usually start with the easiest of the 3 levels of difficulty that NOCE has:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Here are the subjects for the beginner level:
- Read prescriptions,
- Fit and dispensing spectacles
- Use standard ophthalmic equipment
This exam is for working with glasses, and if you want to work with contact lenses as well, you’ll need to pass the Contact Lens Registry Examination (CLRE), offered by the National Contact Lens Examiners.
This exam also has 3 levels of difficulty, and its topics are:
- Pre-fitting for lenses,
- Diagnostic fitting,
- Dispensing of lenses,
- Patient education,
- Delivery
- Follow-up
You’ll need to pay some $400 in total for both these tests, but employers usually cover this cost.
You should know these certificates expire every 3 years, and you should continue your education to renew them.
Optician Employment and Salary in North Carolina
When it comes to finding a job, try at these locations first:
- Stores
- Offices
- Optometry practices
- Hospitals
- Clinics
The minimum salary in North Carolina that you can earn as an optician is around $39,000 per year.
$63,000 annually is the most you can get on average as an optician in North Carolina.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Opticians in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | $47,049 |
| Raleigh | $46,478 |
| Greensboro | $45,902 |
| Durham | $46,210 |
| Winston Salem | $46,013 |
| Fayetteville | $44,072 |
| Cary | $46,478 |
| Wilmington | $43,808 |
| High Point | $46,176 |
| Greenville | $46,142 |
Regional Salary in North Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 100 | $51,950 | $24.98 | $73,570 | $36,550 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 470 | $52,600 | $25.29 | $75,960 | $33,380 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 70 | $58,910 | $28.32 | $78,590 | $35,250 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 50 | $51,330 | $24.68 | $73,630 | $34,300 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 120 | $54,280 | $26.1 | $75,560 | $30,840 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 50 | $54,840 | $26.37 | $73,970 | $35,190 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 30 | $51,730 | $24.87 | $73,490 | $27,970 |
| Raleigh, NC | 300 | $52,870 | $25.42 | $74,460 | $35,180 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 30 | $49,450 | $23.77 | $68,080 | $36,310 |
| Wilmington, NC | 80 | $51,280 | $24.65 | $76,020 | $29,400 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 100 | $51,590 | $24.8 | $72,920 | $30,440 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Opticians in North Carolina
The following organizations can offer further help especially when it comes to finding a job:
- American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE)
- North Carolina Opticians Association
- Commission on Opticianry Accreditation
- North Carolina Optometric Society
- North Carolina State Board of Opticians
