The push for opticians to “Get Certified, Stay Certified” is growing amid widely varying requirements across the United States. With only 22 states requiring some form of regulation and licensure for opticians, professional certification can provide a common benchmark of competency regardless of where an optician works.
Certification can also offer benefits throughout the optical—from demonstrating knowledge and competency to patients to helping practices reduce remakes and improve patient satisfaction.
For opticians, certification can establish professional credibility while supporting career advancement and mobility. But understanding why certification matters raises another question: How does an optician actually get certified and stay certified? Here, we provide expert guidance.
Getting Certified: Where to Start
For opticians in unregulated states who do not know where to begin, Phernell Walker, educator and chair of the American Board of Opticianry (ABO), recommends starting with the ABO and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) requirements. The entry-level pathway includes preparing for and sitting for the ABO basic certification examination or pursuing NCLE certification for those interested in working with contact lenses.
“The easiest way and the fastest way to get through this is to just go to the ABO-NCLE website,” Walker says. “You’ll see the criteria and what that takes to become a certified optician.”
For opticians preparing for either exam, Walker’s primary advice is simple: Study. Recommended study materials include books, online resources, and others available through professional organizations such as ABO-NCLE and United Opticians Association (UOA). Opticians already working in the field can also seek guidance from certified coworkers, mentors, or opticians on how they prepared and what to expect.
Keep in mind that no single route works for everyone. Bob Alexander, UOA director of education, says that formal opticianry education programs are one path, while apprenticeships, employer-based training, and self-study programs offer other avenues.
Gwen Cooper UOA executive director, notes that some opticians pursue a two-year associate degree, while others complete apprenticeship programs or state-specific training requirements before preparing for certification exams.
“The best approach combines education, mentorship, practical experience, and engagement with the professional community,” Alexander says.
Professional meetings can also help. Walker encourages aspiring opticians to attend state association meetings and industry conferences to learn from and network with certified opticians.
“A lot of folks would love to network with you,” he says.
“Learning through multiple avenues ensures opticians are well prepared to strengthen patient care and are ready for future opportunities.”
Bob Alexander, UOA director of education
Staying Certified: Continuing Education
While getting certified establishes competency at a point in time, staying certified demonstrates a commitment to continuing that education.
ABO-NCLE certifications are valid for three years and require continuing education for renewal. For basic certification, ABO-certified opticians need 12 approved continuing education credits, while NCLE-certified professionals need 18 credits. Requirements differ for those who hold both credentials, and licensed opticians may also have state-specific continuing education requirements.
For licensed opticians, completing continuing education for certification does not necessarily mean duplicating work already completed for state licensure. “Licensed opticians do not need to do double work,” Alexander says. “Licensed opticians can show proof that they have renewed their license to ABO-NCLE, and the ABO-NCLE will accept that as proof of completing continuing education.”
Continuing education, however, is more than just a renewal requirement.
“Opticianry is a part of health care,” Walker says. “It’s important that opticians stay up to date with the latest advancements in technology, medicine, lenses, frame design, lens design, and so much more.”
Cooper echoes that need for continued learning given the steady growth of technological advances in the industry. For example, “Think about lens technology today versus even two years ago and what’s available,” she says.
For opticians who may eventually move to a state with licensure requirements, maintaining certification can be particularly important. Because certification exams factor into licensure requirements in many states, keeping those credentials current can also help preserve future career options. ABO-NCLE advises candidates pursuing state licensure to check their individual state board requirements since regulations vary.
“Please, please, please maintain that certification,” Walker says.
What Comes Next?
Cooper encourages opticians to think of certification as the beginning rather than the endpoint.
“Why stop at that baseline certification?” she says. “Just continue to learn and then get the next level of certification.”
For instance, Walker points to contact lenses, low vision, myopia control, and binocular vision as areas where opticians can deepen their knowledge. Opticians can also pursue advanced credentials, formal education, or leadership opportunities.
That type of continued development will only become more important as technology evolves.
“Learning through multiple avenues ensures opticians are well prepared to strengthen patient care and are ready for future opportunities,” Alexander says.
Ultimately, the “get certified, stay certified” movement is about more than passing an exam. It is an effort to establish what the profession expects from opticians in all states.
For Cooper, the goal is to establish certification as a baseline of competency and “elevate the profession.”