Becoming an Optician in New York

23 states require opticians to become licensed, and New York State is one of them. The rules and regulations are established by the New York Department of Education Division of Professional Licensing Services Ophthalmic Dispensing Unit. An individual looking to become a licensed ophthalmic dispenser must have either graduated from an approved two-year associate program or completed a two-year on-the-job traineeship under the supervision of a licensed ophthalmic dispenser, physician, or optometrist.[En Español]

If a person is going the on-the-job training route, he or she must apply for a trainee permit. Once the training/education component is completed, one must pass a national and state written exam and a state practical exam. To fit contact lenses, one must also become certified as a contact lens practitioner by passing the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Contact Lens Registry Examination.

Job Outlook for Optician in New York

In May 2018, 3,450 people were working as opticians in New York as detailed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Furthermore, 2,470 people were working as ophthalmic medical technicians, as well as an additional 2,370 working as optometrists. There were also 2,850 people employed as ophthalmic laboratory technicians. Employment for certified dispensing opticians in New York is predicted to increase by 15 percent up until 2028, which is higher than the national average of 4 percent growth. New York is one of the top five employers of opticians in the United States.

Optician Salaries in New York

In May 2021, the average salary for opticians in New York was $58,780 (BLS). This is equal to an hourly wage of $28.26. Optometrists earned an average annual salary of $129,520, or $62.27 per hour, while ophthalmic medical technologists earned $47,990 per year, or $23.07 per hour.

Salaries in New York by Occupation

Profession	Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Wage
Opticians, Dispensing	3,440	$26.19	$54,470
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians	2,470	$18.97	$39,460
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians	3,040	$17.95	$37,330
Optometrists	2,410	$59.49	$123,730

Certified Dispensing Optician Salaries in New York by Region

Region	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Salary	10% Percentile	25% Percentile	Median	75% Percentile	90% Percentile
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	210	$27.22	$56,620	$31,620	$50,090	$55,840	$61,460	$85,580
Binghamton, NY	50	$19.31	$40,170	$26,160	$31,320	$40,750	$48,950	$56,430
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	380	$24.74	$51,460	$34,300	$41,940	$51,310	$60,810	$71,660
Glens Falls, NY	30	$21.00	$43,680	$28,360	$35,090	$44,900	$51,550	$58,980
Kingston, NY	40	$24.79	$51,560	$30,850	$41,840	$49,570	$62,870	$73,940
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	3,160	$27.43	$57,060	$29,180	$45,920	$58,120	$69,670	$78,920
Rochester, NY	140	$25.73	$53,520	$41,890	$49,770	$55,560	$60,350	$63,330
Syracuse, NY	170	$23.43	$48,720	$20,240	$42,090	$52,290	$59,590	$64,100
Utica-Rome, NY	**	$21.45	$44,620	$32,060	$34,900	$39,620	$55,470	$61,730

Optician Training and Certification in New York

While there are many options for optician training programs in New York, there are few that are registered with the state that meet their certification requirements.

• Erie Community College (ECC). Their Vision Care Technology AAS program includes classroom, clinical, and laboratory training. Students participate in two clinical externships at local private practices and vision centers. This program has over 70 affiliated and approved sites in the Buffalo area. Second-year students also get the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at the Community Eye Clinic at Friends of the Night People by offering eye examinations to those in need.
• NYC College of Technology. Located in Brooklyn, NY, this Ophthalmic Dispensing AAS program requires 62 credits of training. Their education program prepares students to become ophthalmic dispensers, contact lens fitters, ophthalmic assistants, ophthalmic sales representatives, and optical research technicians.

National Optician Certification in New York

Anyone looking to become a certified dispensing optician in New York must pass the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE), a 200-question exam proctored by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO). The NOCE is administered twice a year, and passing scores are 70 percent or higher. To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and either be enrolled in an approved opticianry program or be employed as an apprentice/trainee for two years.

Additionally, certified dispensing opticians must renew their licenses every two years. Renewal requires continuing education credits through approved programs. All licensees are also required to adhere to the New York State Opticianry rules and regulations.

New York opticians can take advantage of a variety of professional development opportunities, such as conferences, webinars, seminars, and workshops offered by organizations like the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA), American Academy of Optometry (AAO), and Opticians Association of New York (OANY).

National Contact Lens Examiners Exam (NCLE)

Opticians in New York must also pass the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Contact Lens Registry Examination. This exam is a comprehensive, 150-question assessment that evaluates the applicant’s knowledge of contact lens fitting and related topics. To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and either be enrolled in an approved contact lens fitting program or previously completed such a program. Passing scores are 70 percent or higher.

ABO Certification Exam

Opticians in New York must also pass the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) Certification Exam. This exam is a 120-question assessment that evaluates the applicant’s knowledge of opticianry and related topics. To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and either be enrolled in an approved opticianry program or have worked as an apprentice/trainee for two years. Passing scores are 70 percent or higher.

Contact Lens Registry Exam

In New York, opticians must also pass the Contact Lens Registry Exam. This exam is a comprehensive, 150-question assessment that evaluates the applicant’s knowledge of contact lens fitting and related topics. To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and either be enrolled in an approved contact lens fitting program or have previously completed such a program. Passing scores are 70 percent or higher.

Where to Find Work as Optician in New York

Most opticians in New York work at independent optical chain stores, private practices, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and ophthalmology and optometric practices. Individuals can work under certified opticians in traineeships for two years before obtaining their certification.

Entry-level opticians are required to know glasses prescription lens materials, multifocal lens considerations prisms, frames frame adjustment basics, and corrective eye care solutions.

Due to the growth expected in the next 10 years, along with New York state being one of the top places to be employed in the optical field, choosing this field would be a smart choice.

Neighbor States

See options in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont.

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