Optician Licensing Requirements by State
Optician regulations vary dramatically across the United States. 23 states require formal licensing, while 28 states allow opticians to practice with voluntary certification only.
Require state licensure
Voluntary certification
Varies by state and certification
Licensed vs. Non-Licensed States
Licensed States
- Legal requirement: Must obtain state license to practice
- Education: Associate degree OR 2-4 year apprenticeship (4,000-8,000 hours)
- Exams: ABO + NCLE national exams (some states have additional state-specific exams)
- Renewal: Continuing education required (10-30 hours every 1-3 years)
- Salary: Typically 10-15% higher than non-licensed states
Non-Licensed States
- No state license: Can work with high school diploma + on-the-job training
- Voluntary certification: ABO/NCLE strongly recommended for better jobs
- Employer standards: Individual employers set their own training requirements
- Faster entry: Can start working immediately in entry-level positions
- Career mobility: Certification enables moving to licensed states
Licensed States (23)
8,000 hr apprenticeship required
ABO + NCLE exams required
Associate degree OR apprenticeship
Business licensing (Spectacle Lens Dispenser)
ABO + NCLE + practical exam
Associate degree OR 2-yr apprenticeship
ABO + NCLE exams required
License required for dispensing
ABO + NCLE exams required
Strict requirements - Associate degree OR 2-yr apprenticeship
Most burdensome requirements in US
ABO + NCLE exams required
Associate degree OR apprenticeship
Associate degree OR 3-yr apprenticeship
ABO + NCLE exams required
ABO + NCLE exams required
ABO + NCLE exams required
ABO + NCLE exams required
ABO + NCLE exams required
Business licensing only (not individual)
ABO + NCLE exams required
ABO + NCLE exams required
6,000 hr apprenticeship + practical exam
Non-Licensed States (28)
Voluntary certification recommended
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
No license required
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