Becoming an Optician in New Hampshire

If you have been thinking of making a career change, job growth for opticians in New Hampshire is considerably strong and is expected to maintain its stability for years to come. This means that you will experience more than just a rewarding career—you will have many opportunities for advancement over the years. Opticians in New Hampshire are often hired to work in private ophthalmic practices but are also employed in retail stores that sell eyeglasses and contact lenses, as well as in hospitals and clinics.[En Español]

Licensing for Opticians in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Board of Optometry regulates the issuing of licenses to practicing opticians throughout the state. To become a licensed optician, you will need to complete a two-year board-approved program in optometry. After completing the program, you will be eligible to take the written exam by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO). To obtain your license, you will need to earn a passing score of at least 75 percent on the exam and pass a clinical proficiency exam administered by the Northeast Regional Clinical Optometric Assessment Testing Service (NERCOATS).

Other licensing requirements in New Hampshire include proof of CPR certification and two recommendation letters from practicing optometrists who have professional knowledge of the applicant.

National Optician Certification in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is one of the U.S. states that does not mandate certification for opticians; however, practicing opticians are free to obtain their national certification from the American Board of Opticianry’s Certification (ABO) as well as take the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) certification exam. While these credentials are not required, being nationally certified will improve your earning potential and support your professional development. Once you obtain ABO-NCLE qualifications, you will need to maintain an active status and become recertified every three years.

National Contact Lens Examiners Certification Exam

The National Contact Lens Examiners Certification Exam (NCLE) is a test of optometric knowledge and skills related to contact lenses in the United States. This exam is administered by the American Board of Opticianry and approved by the National Contact Lens Examiners. There are two parts to this exam – a written portion and an applied practical portion. The written part consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering the topics of contact lens fitting and evaluation, patient education, optical prescriptions, eye care hygiene, contact lens care, and materials. The applied practical portion tests the applicant’s clinical skills in fitting and evaluating a range of contact lenses.

Contact Lens Registry Exam

The Contact Lens Registry Exam is the only contact lens certification exam in the United States. It is regulated and administered by the NCLE. This exam covers a wide range of contact lens-related topics, including patient education and instruction, optical prescriptions, eye care hygiene, contact lens care, and materials. Passing this exam will provide you with the necessary credentials to become an optician in New Hampshire.

Optician Certification Training Programs

Unlike other states that require licensure, New Hampshire does not enforce technical skill training or examination requirements. This also means that there are no official campus programs in New Hampshire for opticians.

However, if you are interested in acquiring formal optician training, Penn Foster College offers an online Optician Exam Prep Career Diploma Program that will provide you with all of the coursework and knowledge needed to begin working as an optician. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the above-mentioned ABO and NCLE certification exams.

Outlook and Salaries for Opticians in New Hampshire

The outlook for optician careers in New Hampshire is very good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 330 people employed in New Hampshire as opticians in 2020 as well as 380 people employed as ophthalmic medical technicians. In the same year, approximately 210 optometrists were working in New Hampshire. Jobs for opticians in the state are expected to expand by 9 percent through 2030.

Opticians in New Hampshire earned, on average, $38,150 annually in 2021, according to the BLS. If you are interested in furthering your education, related vision care careers in New Hampshire also come with great salaries. In 2021, ophthalmic technicians earned an average of $37,920 annually, while optometrists earned an average of $124,300 in the same year.

Salaries in New Hampshire by Occupation

Certified Dispensing Optician Salaries in New Hampshire by Region

Working as an Optician in New Hampshire

The majority of opticians in New Hampshire work under optometrists in private practices, but there are plenty of these offices in the state that will need qualified opticians in the coming years. Opticians can also be found in retail stores, local hospitals, clinics, and chain eyeglass shops.

Entry-level opticians should possess good customer service skills, knowledge of contact lenses and eyeglasses, frames frame adjustment basics, multifocal lens considerations prisms, and excellent communication abilities.

Regardless of the setting you choose to work in, you can expect plenty of growth opportunities. To keep up with job openings, the New Hampshire Opticians Society often lists vision care positions that are available throughout the state.

Neighbor States

See options in Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York.