Becoming an Optician in Nevada
Becoming an optician in Nevada requires licensing, but the steps needed to get there are not difficult. With an apprenticeship and some classroom time, you can soon begin working and earning as an eye professional. Opticians help patients fill prescriptions, pick out frames, learn how to use their lenses, and make repairs. It is a rewarding career and a stable one in Nevada, where growth in the industry is strong.[En Español]
Licensing for Opticians in Nevada
The prerequisite for starting a career in opticianry in Nevada is obtaining a high school diploma or GED. After that, you must take the National Opticianry Competency Exam (NOCE) and complete a state-approved apprenticeship program.
Once you have completed those steps, you will need to fill out an application with the Nevada State Board of Opticians and pay a fee. The board will review your qualifications and provide you with a license if you meet all the requirements.
To work as an optician in Nevada you must be licensed through the Board of Dispensing Opticians. The first step in becoming licensed is to apply to the Board to become an apprentice. You can then choose one of two pathways:
- A one-year apprenticeship that includes at least 1,000 hours of work experience and completion of an associate degree program in ophthalmic dispensing
- A three-year apprenticeship with a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience and the completion of a home-study or certificate program in ophthalmic and contact lens theory
Both options must include at least 100 hours of experience working with contact lenses. Some of the hours or coursework may be covered by prior experience on a case-by-case basis.
National Optician Certification in Nevada
After completing these requirements, you must pass three examinations to become licensed. These include the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Contact Lens Registry examination and the American Board of Opticians examination. Applicants must also take and pass a Nevada laws and ethics exam.
National Contact Lens Examiners Examination (NCLE): This exam tests your knowledge of the safe and effective fitting, design, and use of contact lenses.
American Board of Opticians Exam: This is a multiple-choice examination designed to test your general eye care knowledge in topics such as optics, frames, lenses, materials, optometric instruments, and other related information.
Optician Certification Training Programs
There is one school in Nevada with approved programs for future opticians. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN), with campuses in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, offers a two-year associate degree program in ophthalmic technology. This program meets the requirements for the one-year apprenticeship licensing option. It includes 22 general education credits and 46 special topic credits.
CSN also has certificate programs that meet the requirements for the three-year apprenticeship option. These include the ophthalmic dispensing certificate and the contact lens technician certificate. Other approved programs for the three-year option are the National Academy of Opticianry and Contact Lens Society of America home-study programs.
Outlook and Salaries for Opticians in Nevada
Jobs for licensed opticians in Nevada are quickly increasing in number. In 2020, 760 licensed opticians were working in the state, while there are predicted to be 840 by 2030, a growth of more than 11 percent. Those additional positions represent a need for more qualified professionals in the state. People in training now will be filling the new jobs in the coming years.
The average annual salary for an optician in Nevada in 2021 was $36,860, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ophthalmic medical technicians earned an average of $37,540 that year. And, if you are interested in continuing your education and training, you could become a licensed optometrist. The average salary for these professionals in 2021 was $123,870.
Salaries in Nevada by Occupation
| Profession | Employment | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opticians, Dispensing | 560 | $18.73 | $38,970 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 230 | $16.82 | $34,980 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 190 | $14.64 | $30,440 |
| Optometrists | 200 | $61.83 | $128,600 |
Certified Dispensing Optician Salaries in Nevada by Region
| Region | Total Employment | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary | 10% Percentile | 25% Percentile | Median | 75% Percentile | 90% Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 370 | $19.16 | $39,840 | $30,190 | $33,150 | $36,510 | $40,470 | $63,560 |
| Reno, NV | 170 | $17.44 | $36,280 | $23,860 | $27,600 | $32,680 | $39,560 | $59,210 |
Working as an Optician in Nevada
The future for opticians in Nevada is positive, with 40 percent more jobs that will need to be filled in the next six years or so. If you are interested in this career you can expect to find most opportunities in and around Las Vegas in the south and around Reno and Lake Tahoe in the north. Most opticians work for optometrists in practices and eyeglass shops, but they are also hired by medical labs, clinics, hospitals, and doctor’s offices. With a few years of training, you could be a working, licensed optician in Nevada, earning a great living in this rewarding career.
Neighbor States
Residents of Nevada may also wish to review their options in California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona.
College Listings
| School | Type | Tuition and fees per year | Net price per year | Optician programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
College of Southern NevadaLas Vegas, NV(702) 651-50006375 W. Charleston Blvd.29,081 undergraduates, fall 2023Accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Public | $4,3582024-25 | $5,180 to $12,804by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
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Tuition and fees are from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) for the year shown. Net price is the range of the average net prices each school published for different family incomes, from CareerSpy; it covers first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, so yours may differ. Schools that have closed are not listed.
Optician licensing and certification in Nevada
Nevada is one of a small number of states that requires opticians to hold an active state license before they can fit or dispense eyeglasses or contact lenses to the public. That requirement shapes everything about how you enter this field here. You cannot work as a dispensing optician in Nevada on a handshake and a job offer alone. You need a license from the Nevada State Board of Optometry, and that license is tied to recognized certification or an approved training path.
Understanding how licensing, national certification, and local training connect will save you time and money as you plan your next step.
How Nevada licensure works
Nevada licenses dispensing opticians through the Nevada State Board of Optometry. To qualify, you generally need to pass the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) exam and the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) exam. The ABO exam tests your knowledge of optics, lens dispensing, and frame fitting. The NCLE exam covers contact lens fitting and care. Together they make up the standard national certification that Nevada accepts as proof of competency.
You also need documented experience or formal training before you sit for the exams. Nevada accepts a combination of work experience and education. Check directly with the Nevada State Board of Optometry for the current hour requirements, because those details can change and the Board’s published rules are the authoritative source.
ABO-NCLE certification: what it is and why it matters here
The ABO-NCLE is a national credentialing program run by the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners. Passing both exams earns you the title of Nationally Certified Optician (NCO). In Nevada, that certification satisfies the core competency requirement for your state license. It also travels with you if you ever move to another state that recognizes ABO-NCLE credentials.
Many employers in Nevada, especially optical chains and ophthalmology practices, list ABO-NCLE certification as a hiring requirement. Having it before you apply puts you ahead of candidates who are still working toward it.
Where you can train in Nevada
Formal opticianry training gives you the optical theory and hands-on dispensing practice that experience alone takes much longer to build. Nevada has limited in-state program options compared to larger states, so knowing exactly what is available matters.
College of Southern Nevada
College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas runs an opticianry program that covers optics theory, frame selection, lens finishing, and contact lens fitting. The program is designed to prepare you for the ABO and NCLE exams. Because it is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, in-state tuition rates apply if you are a Nevada resident. Contact the college directly for current tuition figures and enrollment dates, as those change by semester.
Las Vegas is the largest optical job market in Nevada, so training there puts you close to the employers you will be applying to when you finish.
Apprenticeship and on-the-job training
If a formal program does not fit your schedule or budget, Nevada also allows work-based training pathways. You work under a licensed optician, accumulate documented hours, and then sit for the ABO-NCLE exams. This path takes longer than a structured program, but it earns income while you train. Ask any optical employer upfront whether they will document your hours in the format the Board accepts. Not every employer tracks hours in a way that satisfies licensing requirements.
What opticians earn in Nevada
Salary matters when you are deciding whether a training investment is worth it. Nevada wage data gives you a clear picture of what this career pays at different points.
According to BLS May 2025 OEWS data, there are 960 dispensing opticians employed in Nevada. The median annual wage is $46,910. If you are starting out, the 10th percentile wage is $38,090 per year, and the 25th percentile is $46,010. Experienced opticians in the top quarter earn $79,140, and those at the 90th percentile earn $84,660. The mean wage across all Nevada opticians is $56,700.
Those numbers show a wide range. Entry-level pay is solid for a two-year training path, and the upper end of the range reflects what specialization, management responsibility, or years of experience can add to your earnings.
How related roles compare
Some graduates move into ophthalmic medical technician roles, which involve assisting ophthalmologists with diagnostic testing and patient preparation. According to BLS May 2025 OEWS data, Nevada has 960 ophthalmic medical technicians employed, with a median wage of $37,660 and a mean of $41,090. The 10th percentile starts at $35,530, and the 90th percentile reaches $49,360.
Comparing these two paths is worth your time. Dispensing opticians in Nevada earn more at the median ($46,910 versus $37,660) and have a much higher ceiling at the 90th percentile ($84,660 versus $49,360). Both roles require technical training, but the optician path offers more earning potential if salary growth is a priority for you.
Wage progression over a career
The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile for dispensing opticians in Nevada is roughly $33,000 per year. That gap reflects real differences in experience, specialization, and location within the state. Opticians who add specialty skills, such as low-vision fitting or complex contact lens dispensing, tend to move toward the upper end of that range faster than generalists do.
Las Vegas and the Reno-Sparks metro area have more optical employers than rural Nevada, and higher-volume practices typically pay more. If you are flexible about where in the state you work, that flexibility can affect your starting salary and your speed of advancement.
Keeping your Nevada license current
A Nevada optician license is not a one-time credential. The Board requires continuing education (CE) to renew your license on the regular renewal cycle. CE keeps your knowledge current as lens technology, coating options, and contact lens materials change. Confirm the exact CE hours required directly with the Nevada State Board of Optometry, as renewal requirements can be updated.
ABO-NCLE certification also requires its own renewal cycle, separate from your state license. Staying current on both is part of working as a licensed optician in Nevada.
Steps to take next
If you are ready to move forward, the path is straightforward. Start by reviewing the Nevada State Board of Optometry’s current licensing requirements so you know exactly what documentation you will need. Then look at the College of Southern Nevada’s opticianry program to see whether its schedule and format fit your situation. If you are leaning toward the apprenticeship route, contact optical employers in your area now and ask specifically whether they offer structured on-the-job training with documented hours.
The ABO and NCLE exam schedules are set throughout the year, so once you have your training path confirmed, you can work backward from an exam date to build a realistic timeline. Starting that planning process now puts you closer to a licensed role in Nevada’s optical workforce.