How to Become an Optician in Ohio

Maybe you want to become an optician in Ohio, where you will get many job opportunities.

If that is the case, you should check out our article below as you will get info on achieving your dream.

Optician Job Description and Duties in Ohio

As an optician, you will help people to find the correct eye-wear and advise regarding the style of the eye-wear.

Opticians do not provide eye prescriptions.

The job responsibilities you will have every day are:

• 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

Optician Job Requirements in Ohio

While you may not need a license to work as an optician in Ohio, it is still advisable to get one.

A license will give you more job opportunities in the future.

Keep in mind that many companies will only hire you if you have a certification.

To get it, you have to take the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exam.

You should also consider taking the National Contact Lens Examiner’s (NCLE) exam.

In Ohio, licenses are issued by the Ohio Board of Optometry.

The documents you will need to submit include the following:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Graduating from a training program or having a formal education
  • An associate’s degree diploma is highly appreciated by employers
• Good interpersonal skills

Optician Education in Ohio

In order to get the right training, you should first attend a training program for opticians.

These programs are usually offered by post-secondary schools.

In Ohio, these schools are seen in this next table.

For instance, both Cuyahoga Community College and Hocking College offer programs that award Associates’ degrees to their graduates.

These courses take 2 years to complete.

At Mercy College, you’ll train to become the assistant of an ophthalmologist and this program takes only 32 weeks to complete.

You should know that these colleges have quite high tuitions, with the exception of Cuyahoga Community College.

You can also consider colleges from other states or even online programs.

Many schools have their specific requirements for enrollment, 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

An optician training program generally lasts for 7 months and includes classes like:

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

Optician Certification in Ohio

The next step after completing the program is to take an exam and meet one of the below requirements:

• A license in a reciprocal state
• At least 3 years of experience
• Can be an apprenticeship of 3 years in the past 6 years
• Can be from working as an optician in a state with no licensing requirements
• Graduate from an approved post-secondary optician program with a year of apprenticeship

You will have to pass the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE) through the ABO.

There are 3 difficulty levels to this exam:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

The easiest level requires:

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

A fee of $200 should also be submitted.

The dispensing of contact lenses requires passing the National Contact Lens Examiners.

So, you need to pass the Contact Lens Registry Examination (CLRE).

The fee for this exam is $200, usually paid by the hiring company.

The exam subjects are:

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

You will also have to submit some documents, such as:

• Age over 18
• A high school diploma or GED
• To fill out an application
• To pay some fees
• A clean criminal record
• Passing the State Practical Examination
• Proof of completed training, education, or at least 3 years of experience

In Ohio, you will need to keep your certification up to date if you want to work as an optician.

This requires you to renew the license, for which you need to attend a number of extra classes.

Keep in mind that these classes can be joined online.

Optician Employment and Salary in Ohio

Some facilities that hire opticians in this state include:

• Stores
• Offices
• Optometry practices
• Hospitals
• Clinics

If you live in one of the larger cities of Ohio, you can earn from $40,000 to $65,000.

Regional Salary in Ohio

Additional Information for Opticians in Ohio

Perhaps you need more career resources, so check out the following:

• American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE)
• National Examining Board of Ocularists (NEBO)
• Ohio Optical Dispensers Board
• Opticians Association of Ohio