In this exclusive feature series, we dig into the forces transforming opticianry today—and how this sea change impacts and benefits the broader vision care delivery team, from OD to MD and beyond. Here, in Part One, we take a deep dive into the impactful trajectory of the United Opticians Association.
Some patients are surprised when they learn that opticians in more than half of U.S. states require no official certification. That’s how Gwen Cooper reacted when she was named Executive Director of the United Opticians Association (UOA) and learned that had been the situation when she was fitted with eyeglasses when she was only six months old.
“There are only 22 states in the U.S. that require some form of licensure or certification to practice opticianry,” says Cooper, who has been working in the health care field for nearly three decades. Those regulated 22 states are themselves not consistent in their requirements. (See a map of regulated and unregulated states.)
That’s not to say that opticians in unregulated states are not qualified “because there’s so many that are,” she says. Ultimately, though, Cooper’s goal with the relatively new UOA is to elevate the profession—and nationwide certification—overall.
What Is the United Opticians Association?
The United Opticians Association was formed two years ago on July 1, 2024, to bring together the Opticians Association of America and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools. Both organizations were brought together under one umbrella with the goal of elevating the profession through both education and advocacy.
“Those are our two most important pillars of our organization,” says Cooper. “Advocacy and education will work together toward mandating that in the states that have no regulation we want to require certification as the floor for entry into the field. Get certified and stay certified.”
Ultimately, the UOA’s goal is to establish consistent standards across the country and eventually encourage all opticians to obtain an associate degree. Currently, 17 schools in the U.S. offer an associate degree in opticianry.
“The consensus was that everyone must get certified. We have to regulate ourselves. We have to elevate the profession.”
Gwen Cooper, UOA
State Legislation in the Works
The UOA intends to achieve this goal of elevating the profession of opticianry by requiring regulation through legislation—starting with Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Representative Manuel Guzman (D) will sponsor a bill requiring opticians in Pennsylvania to obtain and maintain their certification.
There will be a grandfather clause built in for seasoned opticians. The bill will also create the Pennsylvania State Board of Opticianry with a mix of opticians and others representing the varied practices and expertise in the industry.
To move the Pennsylvania bill forward, in early May, Cooper joined Opticians Association of Pennsylvania Board Members Michelle Cereo and John Shaw along with member opticians Charlie Saccarelli and Harry Chilinguerian to discuss the bill’s contents with Rep. Guzman and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania House Delegation Francis Rodriguez. They reviewed the bill’s language with several members of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, as well.
While Cooper is hopeful the bill will pass, it’s still in the early stages. “If it passes, we have three or four states lined up ready to file,” says Cooper. “We will file the same piece of legislation with nuances based on state law, of course, in states that have no regulation and start chipping away.
“There are 28 states that have no regulation at all. Those are the only states that we’re focusing on. We don’t want to mess with the states that have regulation. They’re doing just fine. If we have to defend licensure to maintain those regulations, that is at the top of the list, as well.”
Inviting optometrists to participate in the development of the bill illustrates UOA’s efforts to include a wide variety of stakeholders in elevating the profession of opticianry.
The UOA also recently set in motion a merger with the National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) to strengthen both organizations. Both boards approved a letter of intent in April, which was followed in May with the NAO Fellow Members and UOA Board of Directors voting to authorize the beginning of a formal merger or asset-transfer process between them.
Industry Involvement in Elevating Opticianry
Cooper has made sure that the UOA involves industry, as well. To do so, the organization has set aside one industry partner seat on its board along with other corporate partnership opportunities.
“Our first meeting with industry partners had no agenda,” she says. “We just asked them: ‘What do you expect from the UOA? How can we help you? How can you help us?’ And the consensus was that everyone must get certified. We have to regulate ourselves. We have to elevate the profession.”
Following a second corporate partner meeting in mid-May, UOA will hold the Sightline Panel Discussion with participants from industry at the UOA’s Leadership Conference. “We launched the Sightline Panel Discussion for all our industry partners to sit around the table and talk about what’s happening in the industry,” she notes. “We have large and small companies. We want them all at the table and all to have a voice.”
That’s just one part of the UOA’s Leadership Conference, taking place June 25-27, 2026, in Chicago. Under the theme of “One Vision. One Voice. One UOA.”, the UOA Leadership Conference will be a three-day event featuring education, exhibitions, networking, and more.
Other UOA initiatives include the recently launched Mission: Optician podcast, web-based educational resources, tracking Federal and State legislation, and an advocacy portal, which includes access to a survey by The Vision Council about consumer attitudes toward opticianry. The UOA also recently participated in a Contact Lens Institute survey about opticianry’s role in contact lens wear and care.
Cooper acknowledges that the UOA is a team effort and that a group of passionate individuals are pushing the organization’s agenda forward. Bob Alexander, Director of Education, was the UOA’s first hire, and the rest of the team can be found here.
“The pathway into working in this field is that we have consistent standards across the country,” says Cooper, reinforcing the organization’s “Get Certified. Stay Certified.” campaign. By uniting everyone involved to pursue this goal—one state at a time—the nascent United Opticians Association is doing just that.
Want to Learn More? Watch our HER Insight podcast episode with UOA Executive Director Gwen Cooper HERE.