How to Become an Optician in New Hampshire

Many people find that being an optician has many benefits and is a rewarding job.

Read this article if you’re interested in becoming an optician in New Hampshire!

We collected information related to the formation you need for this job, as well as salary details!

Optician Job Description and Duties in New Hampshire

Opticians are professionals that can help people improve their vision.

They do this by completing these tasks:

• 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

Furthermore, patients need the most help patients when choosing one of the following types of eyewear:

• Glasses or spectacles
• Contact lenses

Many employers also assign additional tasks and duties to opticians.

One should remember that inspecting the eyes and writing eyewear prescriptions are not part of the duties of an optician.

Optician Job Requirements in New Hampshire

Even though there is no need for opticians in this state to earn a license, the field is supervised by the New Hampshire Board of Optometry.

Individuals who seek official certification will have to follow the rules set by the Board.

Certified people also have better chances of getting hired and access to many perks afterward.

As far as employers go, they usually want personnel that can meet these criteria:

• Good interpersonal skills
• A high school diploma or GED
• Reliable
• Clean criminal record
• Detail-oriented

Optician Education in New Hampshire

It’s no surprise that a state with no regulations related to licensure as far as opticians are concerned also has no schools to offer specific training.

If you want to earn a certification at the state level, you’ll have to follow the demands of the Board in New Hampshire.

Future opticians usually need to earn at least an Associates’ degree in this field.

Courses can be found either online or at colleges from other states.

You’ll have to pay attention to the school’s accreditation though.

As you can expect, it won’t be easy to get into an optometry program.

These courses can last between a few months and 4 years.

Schools usually accept only candidates with:

• 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

Next, you can see a list of the actual classes you’ll be attending, though these are just a handful:

• Introduction to Optometry
• Ocular Anatomy
• Systems 1: Neuroscience
• Ocular Microbiology
• Ophthalmic Imaging
• Public Health Optometry
• Glaucoma
• Physics
• Math,
• English

It’s also possible to find an apprenticeship, to get the needed training for this job.

Optician Certification in New Hampshire

As mentioned, there’s no need to get certified at the state level in New Hampshire.

Many people choose to only pass the exams offered by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE).

To earn the license from the NHBO, you’ll need to:

• Graduate from an optometry course with a duration of at least 2 years
• Pass the exam offered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO)
• Pass an exam covering the RSA Chapter 327 and the rules set by the Board
• Pass the exam organized by the Northeast Regional Clinical Optometric Assessment Testing Service (NERCOATS)
• Have 2 letters of recommendation
• Have CPR certification (level C)

The passing score for the RSA exam is 75%.

The license issued by the Board has to be renewed every couple of years.

Candidates for the ABO and NCLE exams will need to pay around $200 for each test.

Both these exams are available at 3 levels of difficulty:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

For the ABO, you’ll need to study:

• Reading prescriptions,
• Fitting and dispensing spectacles
• Using standard ophthalmic equipment

For the NCLE, you’ll need to know:

• Pre-fitting for lenses,
• Diagnostic fitting,
• Dispensing of lenses,
• Patient education,
• Delivery
• Follow-up

These two exams have a passing score of at least 70%.

Optician Employment and Salary in New Hampshire

As mentioned, opticians have a promising career ahead of them.

This is especially true due to the steady demand for such professionals.

They can usually be seen working in:

• Stores
• Offices
• Optometry practices
• Hospitals
• Clinics

Not all optician jobs are equal, and this means they can earn a different amount, based at least on:

• Job title
• Certification
• Location
• Job duties
• Management roles
• Sales vs. technician roles

And now, you can see some actual figures as far as the average salary goes in this state’s main urban settings, in the next table!

Regional Salary in New Hampshire

Additional Information for Opticians in New Hampshire

Keep in mind that you’ll need to renew all the certifications you earned.

This normally means attending a set number of continuing education first, during each renewal period.

To find such classes, and not only, use these next resources:

• American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE)
• Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
• Board of Registration in Optometry
• Commission on Opticianry Accreditation
• New Hampshire Board of Optometry
• New Hampshire Opticians Society
• New Hampshire Optometric Association