How to Become an Optician in New Jersey

Embarking on a career as an optician in New Jersey offers an opportunity to engage with individuals while contributing to the healthcare sector.

If you want to get more info about becoming an optician in New Jersey, check out my guide!

Optician Job Duties

Opticians play a crucial role in assisting individuals to enhance their vision.

Their responsibilities encompass a range of tasks, including:

• Deciphering and understanding prescriptions
• Crafting eyewear
• Fitting and fine-tuning eyewear
• Providing education on eyewear concerns and upkeep
• Maintaining sales records
• Calculating insurance co-pays
• Managing inventory
• Collaborating with lens manufacturing labs

While these duties and responsibilities are common for opticians to encounter additional tasks depending on the specific workplace dynamics.

The most significant assistance often comes into play when individuals must make decisions regarding:

• Choosing between glasses or spectacles
• Opting for contact lenses

It’s important to note that opticians are not trained to conduct eye examinations or prescribe eyewear.

Optician Training in New Jersey

New Jersey, though compact, boasts a commitment to optician licensure with a selection of at least three specialized training institutions.

Camden County College

This county college offers an Ophthalmic Science Technology program that lasts 4 semesters.

At the end of the program, students accumulate a minimum of 65 credits.

Essex County College

The college offers a Vision Care Technology program offered at the AAS degree level.

The program covers all the duties of a future optician, along with the clinical hours needed for this profession.

Raritan Valley Community College

This community college has a program called Ophthalmic Science.

It is offered at the Associate of Applied Science level.

It prepares students to become:

• Ophthalmic Technicians
• Dispensing Opticians

Regardless of your preferred credential outcome, these institutions provide various options.

Both certificate and Associate’s degree programs are available at all three schools, with tuition costs aligning across the board.

For those seeking alternatives, considering out-of-state colleges or exploring online training programs is a viable option.

When enrolling in the aforementioned colleges, expect to meet the following requirements:

• 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

The curriculum offered by these institutions includes subjects such as:

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

Upon obtaining your certificate or degree, the next step involves gaining practical experience through an apprenticeship with a licensed optician.

This requires registering as an apprentice with the Board, a process lasting approximately six to eight weeks.

The duration of the apprenticeship varies based on the type of diploma earned, with 36 months for a certificate and 4 months for an Associate’s degree.

Certification or Licensure for an Optician in New Jersey

To obtain an optician license in New Jersey, the following steps are essential:

• Graduate from the training program:
  • Complete the training program outlined previously.
• Complete the apprenticeship:
  • Fulfill the apprenticeship requirements, as detailed earlier.
• Pass the licensure exam:
  • Successfully navigating the licensure exam is a critical step in the certification process.
• Pay fees and apply:
  • Fulfill the necessary financial obligations and submit the required application materials.

Individuals can opt to undergo exams administered by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE), with a combined cost of approximately $400.

These exams come in three difficulty levels:

• Beginner,
• Intermediate
• Advanced.

The ABO test, focusing on spectacles, assesses knowledge in reading prescriptions, fitting and dispensing spectacles, and utilizing standard ophthalmic equipment.

Meanwhile, the NCLE, concentrating on contact lenses, evaluates proficiency in pre-fitting for lenses, diagnostic fitting, dispensing of lenses, patient education, delivery, and follow-up.

Achieving a passing score of 70% is essential for certification, with the certifications needing renewal every three years to maintain their validity.

This comprehensive process ensures that licensed opticians in New Jersey are equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills in the evolving field of optometry.

Optician Certification Renewal

Those with a Beginner certification are obligated to renew it every three years, involving a two-step process:

• Completing a set of continuing education courses.
• Submitting the renewal fee.

Upon completing the renewal process at least once, individuals become eligible to advance to the status of an Advanced Optician.

To achieve this level, the following criteria must be met:

• Accumulate three years of practical experience.
• Maintain the basic certification

Optician Salary in New Jersey

One of the appealing aspects of being an optician lies in the robust demand for these skilled professionals.

The table below elucidates the average salaries across major urban settings in New Jersey.

Regional Salary in New Jersey

Optician Schools by State