Becoming an Optician in Kansas
A career as an optician is a great choice if you enjoy working with and helping people and are looking for a quick path into the healthcare industry. In Kansas, you can become an optician without any special education or licensing. You’ll work hands-on with patients to help them pick out frames, measure them for glasses, and to fill prescriptions, and teach them about their lenses. By landing an entry-level job in an optometry practice, you can quickly begin working as a dispensing optician.[En Español
Optician Certification in Kansas
The prerequisite for getting an optician certification in Kansas is the successful completion of an optician training program. Opticians must complete a minimum of 500 hours of study to be eligible for certification. The training program, which can either be done on-site or through online courses, includes anatomy and physiology, optics and ophthalmic science, vision care products, patient assessment, and care techniques, and business management.
Once the training is complete, opticians must take the Kansas State Board of Optometry Examination to receive their certification. Once certified, opticians are allowed to dispense corrective lenses as prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Optician Certification Training Programs
About half of all states in the U.S. license opticians, but Kansas is not one of them. There are no licensing requirements needed. You do not have to have any particular degree or diploma or be licensed through the state to start working in this industry. There are two paths you can take to become an optician here. One is to seek out an entry-level job with an optician, optometrist, or physician who will train you on the job. Another is to take courses in opticianry before seeking a job.
There are no optician programs at colleges in Kansas, but there are online programs that will provide you with all the information you need to be ready for a job. One great option is the Penn Foster online optician exam prep diploma. This program includes 10 courses and will prepare you to pass the exams for national licensing in opticianry and contact lenses. This is an easy way to access education from anywhere in the state and to become a more desirable candidate for open positions. Request enrollment information on their website.
Continuing education and recertification
Most states require opticians to take continuing education classes to maintain their licenses. Kansas does not have this requirement, however, some employers may require that you continue your knowledge base by taking extra courses or attending seminars. The American Board of Opticianry (ABO) offers online CE classes and an exam at the end of each. After passing the exam, you will receive an ABO certificate which can be used to show employers that your skills are up-to-date.
Penn Foster College – Online Optician Exam Prep Career Diploma
Complete this program in as little as seven months. Format designed by board certified and state-licensed opticians. Opportunity to complete a practicum before graduation. The program will help you prepare for dispensing optician national certification exams, administered by ABO and the NCLE, by providing you with exam prep materials. Call 1-800-851-1819 today.
National Certification for Opticians in Kansas
One of the benefits of completing a series of courses in optician studies is that it will prepare you to get a passing score on national certification exams. The American Board of Opticians examination and the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Contact Lens Registry examination are not required in Kansas for opticians, but many of the employers who hire opticians want to select candidates who hold these certifications. If you do not choose to go to school first, you can learn on the job and take the exams later.
National Contact Lens Examiners Contact Lens Registry Examination
(NCLE-CLRE) is the second certification exam opticians must pass to become certified in Kansas. This exam focuses on knowledge of contact lens fitting and provides you with the skills necessary to effectively fit and dispense lenses. You can find out more about taking this test by visiting their website.
American Board of Optician Examination
The American Board of Opticians Examination is the national test you must pass to become a certified optician. This exam covers topics like optical law and ethics, patient assessment, eyewear selection and fitting, refraction, ophthalmic instruments, and contact lens knowledge. You can find out more about taking this exam on their website.
Outlook and Salaries for Opticians in Kansas
Right now is a good time to start planning your career as an optician in Kansas. The field is growing at a rate of 6 percent. To illustrate the potential for jobs in this industry in the future, 660 opticians were working in the state in 2020, but there are expected to be enough positions for 700 qualified opticians by 2030.
The salary for opticians can vary, but the average income in 2021 for those working in Kansas was $34,340 per year and $16.51 per hour. With more experience and national certification, salaries may increase. Related careers in the state include ophthalmic technicians, who assist ophthalmologists and who earned an average of $37,570 in 2020, and optometrists who go through much more training, are licensed by the state, and earned an average of $106,240 that year.
Salaries in Kansas by Occupation
| Profession | Employment | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opticians, Dispensing | 840 | $14.35 | $29,840 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 670 | $15.72 | $32,690 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 260 | $15.18 | $31,580 |
| Optometrists | 500 | $53.68 | $111,650 |
Certified Dispensing Optician Salaries in Kansas by Region
| Region | Total Employment | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary | 10% Percentile | 25% Percentile | Median | 75% Percentile | 90% Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 580 | $15.39 | $32,000 | $24,000 | $27,230 | $31,510 | $36,560 | $39,920 |
| Lawrence, KS | 30 | $15.34 | $31,910 | $25,600 | $28,110 | $32,720 | $36,370 | $38,560 |
| Manhattan, KS | ** | $15.23 | $31,680 | $22,570 | $26,120 | $31,250 | $37,010 | $40,940 |
| Topeka, KS | 70 | $12.25 | $25,480 | $20,610 | $22,060 | $24,500 | $28,690 | $31,530 |
| Wichita, KS | 180 | $14.12 | $29,370 | $22,690 | $26,150 | $29,300 | $33,030 | $37,200 |
Working as an Optician in Kansas
Most opticians in the state work for optometrists, who examine patients and write prescriptions for lenses. Opticians may also be hired by ophthalmologists and by other types of medical practices. They may work in hospitals, retail stores that sell glasses, clinics, and medical laboratories. If you are ready to start working in this exciting healthcare career, consider trying an online program or contacting optometry practices in Kansas to look for an office hiring and training new opticians.
Neighbor States
Residents of Kansas may also wish to review their options in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado.