Links to State Licensing Boards

Alaska State Board of Dispensing Opticians
Division of Occupational
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Phone: 907/ 465-5470
Fax: (907) 465-2974
• Education equivalent to four years attendance
    at a high school. Has either:
•  Completed at least 1,800 hours
    (required  for each aspect) as an apprentice after
    registering with the department as an apprentice.
    or;
    Been engaged for at least 1,800 hours as a practicing
    optician in good standing in a state, territory, district,
    or possession of the United States.
    *Graduation from an associate degree program in a
    recognized school or college of opticianry may be
    substituted for the experience required.
• Has passed the applicable National Examination.
•  Has passed a course designed in the board's regulations.
    * Graduation from an associate degree program
    in a recognized school or college of opticianry
    may be substituted for the course designated in
    the board's regulations.

Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians
1400 W. Washington #320
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602/ 542-3095
Fax: 602/ 542-3093
•  High School Graduate or G.E.D
•  3 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2-year COA accredited program
    plus 1 year apprenticeship, or
•  3 years as an optician in a non-licensure
    state with qualified skills
•  Opticianry licenses from other
    will be recognized if equally qualified
•  successfully completed the ABO and
    NCLE written examinations.

Arkansas Board of Dispensing Opticians
PO Box 627
Helena, AR 72342
Phone: 800/ 333-7652 x 6713
•  High School Graduate or & 21 years of age
•  Passing of NCLE & state practical examinations
•  6,000 hours registered, or
•  formal acredited program (min. 18 months)
•  resident of Arkansas
•  Opticanry licenses from other states
    will be recognized per Board approval

California Medical Board
1426 Howe Avenue, Suite 54
Sacramento, CA 95825-3236
Phone: 916/ 263-2634
Fax: 916/ 924-2567
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Other establishment regulations required

Connecticut Board of Medical Quality Assurance
410 Capital Avenue, MS# 12APP
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone: 860/ 509-7563
Fax: 860/ 509-8457
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state proactical examinations
•  Passing of state law written examinations
•  4 years registered apprenticeship, or
•  2 years approved accredited program
•  Opticianry licenses from other states
    will be recognized with Board approval

Florida Department of Health
Board of Opticianry
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3258
Phone: 850/ 245-4474
Fax: 850/ 921-5389
•  Passing of NCOE and NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  Passing of written FL rules & regulations examinations
•  3 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  A.S. from COA accredited program
• High school graduate & 18 years of age

Georgia State Board of Dispensing Opticians
166 Pryor Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404/ 656-3912
Fax: 404/ 657-4220
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  2 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  Graduate of formal opticianry program
•  Opticianry licenses from other states
    will be recognized with Board approval

Hawaii Board of Dispensing Opticians
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Po Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
Phone: 808/ 586-2704
Fax: 808/ 564-4818
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  Passing of Hi rules & regulatons
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  3 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  A.S. from COA accredited program
•  High school graduate

Kentucky Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers
PO Box 1360
Frankfurt, KY 40602
Phone: 502/ 564-3296
Fax: 502/ 564-4818
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  Passing of written rules & regulations examinations
•  2 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  A.S. from COA accredited program
• High school graduate

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians
239 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617/ 727-5339
Fax: 617/ 727-1627
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  3 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years formal opticianry education
   

Nevada State Board of Dispensing Opticians
PO Box 70503
Reno, NV 89570
Phone: 775/ 853-1421
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  3 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years formal opticianry educatrion, plus
   1 year of apprenticeship.
• High school graduate & 18 years of age

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Program Support
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603/ 271-5127
Fax: 603/ 271-5590
•  Must register with the division of Public health services

New Jersey State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians
PO Box 45011
Newark, NJ 07101
Phone: 973/ 504-6435
Fax: 973/ 648-3355
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  36 months apprenticeship & 30 credits in Ophthalmic
    science from accredited program, or
•  A.A.S. degree in Opthlalmic science & 4 months
   of apprenticeship
•  Other state opticianry licenses not recognized

New York State Board of Ophthalmic Dispensing
Cultural Education Center, Room 3019
Albany, NY 12230
Phone: 518/ 474-6374
Fax: 518/ 474-6375
•  Passing of NOCE & NCLE
•  Passing of state practical examinations
•  2 years registered apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years formal opticianry education
•  High school graduate
•  Other state opticianry licenses not recognized

North Carolina State Board of Opticians
Po Box 222 N. Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27611
Phone: 919/ 733-9321
Fax: 919/ 733-0040
•  Passing of state written & practical examinations
•  3.5 years apprenticeship & 6 months internship, or
•  2 years at a COA accredited program & 6 months
    internship
•  18 years of age
•  Waiver examination for out-of-state licenses

Ohio Optical Dispensers Board
77 S. High Street, 16th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Phone: 614/ 466-9707
Fax: 614/ 644-8112
•  Passing of NOCE and/or NCLE
•  2 years apprenticeship of minimum 2000 hours, or,
•  2 years formal opticianry program
•  18 years of age, high school graduate or equivalent

Rhode Island Board of Opticians
State Department of Health, Division of Professional Regulation
104 Health Dept. Building
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401/ 222-2827
•  Passing of NOCE & state practical examinations
•  3 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years at approvedl opticianry program &
   1 year apprenticeship
•  High school graduate & 18 years of age

South Carolina Board of Examiners in Opticianry
PO Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211-1329
Phone: 803/ 896-4300
Fax: 803/ 734-4218
•  Passing of NOCE, NCLE & state practical examinations
•  2 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years at approved opticianry program, or
•  2 years as an optician in an unlicense state, or
•  license as optician in a licensed state

Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians
Department of Health Related Boards
1st Floor Cordell Hull Bldg.
421 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37247
Phone: 615/ 532-5159
Fax: 615/ 532-5164
•  Passing of NOCE, NCLE & state practical exams
•  3 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years at approved opticianry program
•  18 years of age

Texas Opticians Registry Office
Texas Department of Health
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756-3199
Phone: 512/ 834-6661
Fax: 512/ 834-6677

Vermont Opticians Licensing Board
Division of Licensing and Regulation
Office of the Secretary of State
Montpelier, VT 05609-1106
Phone: 802/ 828-2837
•  Passing of NOCE examinations
•  3 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years at approved opticianry program

Virginia State Board of Opticians
Department of Commerce
3600 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230-4917
Phone: 804/ 367-8500
•  Passing of NOCE & state practical examinations
•  3 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years at approved opticianry program
•  18 years of age
•  Opticanry licenses from other states
    will be recognized per Board approval

Washington Dispensing Opticians Examining Committee
Department of Health
PO Box 47870
Olympia, WA 98504-7870
Phone: 360/ 236-4948
Fax: 360/ 586-0745
•  Passing of state written & practical examinations
•  3 years apprenticeship, or,
•  2 years at approved opticianry program, or
•  5 years practicing optician inother state
•  18 years of age