Membership. Students and apprentices have a special membership to the Opticians Association of Massachusetts. Please find information here.

Certification. On the path to licensure, all Massachusetts applicants are required to pass the ABO and NCLE Basic certification, as well as the ABO Practical test. Please find testing opportunities here.

Massachusetts Dispensing Opticians License Requirements

To become licensed as a dispensing optician - initial licensing - you'll need to have accomplished the following:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Received sufficient training through one of the following:
  • Completion of 4,200 hours of apprenticeship in no fewer than three (3) years; or
  • Graduation from a 2-year educational program in opticianry, which is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation; or
  • Completion of one year of an educational program which is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation along with completion of 2,100 hours of an apprenticeship in no fewer than 18 months.
• Achieved a passing score on the both the ABO and NCLE National Competency Examinations offered by the American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners.
• Completely filled out an application for licensure.
• Achieved a passing score on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts practical exam (see instructions below).
  

More info here.

Formal Opticianry Education

Franklin Cummings Technical School in Boston, MA offers an Associates Degree in Opticianry, the only program of its kind in Massachusetts. This program will qualify the student for a position involving eye wear and contact lens design and dispensing, optical laboratory finishing and management, optical business management, or independent ownership. The hands-on labs and small classroom settings allows the student to build lifelong connections with faculty and fellow students as they build marketable skills.

Find more information on the program here.

Apprenticeship

In addition to formal education, Massachusetts allows dispensing opticians to obtain their training and education through an apprenticeship. Find apprenticeship requirements here.