How to Become an Optician in Alaska

If you need glasses to help you see better, you most likely have met an optician more than once.

He’s the healthcare provider who helps you choose your glasses and ensures the lenses are the ones prescribed by your optometrist and ophthalmologist.

If you want to become an optician in Alaska, you came to the right place!

I’ll guide you through the job’s duties, requirements, training, and even the expected salary.

Optician Job Duties in Alaska

Knowing what you’re expected to do daily is important when choosing a career.

The level of experience required for any job is another relevant aspect when searching for a job.

Opticians are considered to hold entry-level positions, meaning you don’t need a lot of experience or education to get hired.

It’s usually up to employers to set standards or not when it comes to hiring new personnel.

Here are the most common duties you’ll perform:

• Keeping sales records
• Determining insurance co-pays
• Keeping the inventory
• Preparing eyewear
• Fitting and adjusting eyewear
• Interacting with the labs that make lenses
• Educating customers about eyewear issues and maintenance
• Interpretation of prescriptions
• Repairing broken frames

Opticians are also dispensing contact lenses and educating customers about their use.

For this job aspect though, you’ll need specific certification.

Optician Training in Alaska

To obtain a license, one would typically require formal education, but unfortunately, Alaska lacks available optician programs.

However, interested individuals have alternative options:

• Join an online program
• Participate in an apprenticeship
• Enroll in a university in a different state

The primary prerequisite for these training programs is the ability to qualify for national exams upon completion.

The duration of these training programs for opticians is relatively long, spanning at least 2 to 4 years, resulting in at least an Associate’s Degree.

Key subjects covered include:

• Introduction to Optometry
• Ocular Anatomy
• Systems 1: Neuroscience
• Ocular Microbiology
• Ophthalmic Imaging
• Public Health Optometry
• Glaucoma
• Physics

For apprenticeships, a minimum of 1,800 hours is required under the supervision of a licensed optician.

Apprentices in Alaska must register with the state, adhering to state regulations.

It is advisable to seek employers willing to cover training costs, regardless of the chosen option.

Borough of Manhattan Community College

Even if Alaska doesn’t currently have in-person training programs for opticians, it doesn’t mean you can’t study online instead.

This community college offers a 100% online course that has no set start dates.

You don’t have to meet any requirements to enroll in the class.

Through this course, students will be ready to take ABO’s certification exam.

Here are some of the topics taught in this class:

• Simple math and algebra
• Soft contact lenses
• Gas-permeable contact lenses
• Legal responsibilities and ethics
• The parts of the eye
• Refractive errors
• Strabismus and amblyopia
• Other common ocular conditions
• Prism basics

Certification or Licensure for an Optician in Alaska

The American Board of Opticianry conducts the primary exam for aspiring opticians, known as the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE).

This exam has three certification levels:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

The NOCE, focusing on spectacles, covers topics such as reading prescriptions, fitting and dispensing spectacles, and utilizing standard ophthalmic equipment.

The exam fee is approximately $200, often covered by employers.

For those desiring to dispense contact lenses, another exam is required, known as the Contact Lens Registry Examination (CLRE), offered by the National Contact Lens Examiners.

Like the ABO, the CLRE has experience-based levels and costs around $200, with employers potentially covering the expenses.

The basic level covers pre-fitting for lenses, diagnostic fitting, dispensing of lenses, patient education, delivery, and follow-up.

To take these exams, individuals need to:

• Be over 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Complete an application
• Pay required fees

Certification renewal for beginners occurs every three years and involves paying renewal fees and continuing education.

Those seeking advanced certification require basic certification, a minimum of three years of experience, and at least one certification renewal.

Optician Salary in Alaska

Depending on your certifications, a promising career awaits you in this field.

In Alaska, average salaries range from $51,200 to $66,400 per year, with the actual figure influenced by various factors.

With advanced certification, you can pursue roles as an independent optician.

In cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks the offered salaries are higher for this profession, as seen in the next table.

Regional Salary in Alaska

Optician Schools by State