How to Become an Optician in Illinois

If you believe that a career as an optician aligns with your aspirations, understanding the necessary steps is crucial.

Explore this article for valuable insights into licensing and training in Illinois.

Take a moment to delve into the provided information.

Optician Job Duties

Opticians play a vital role in ensuring that their clients receive eyewear tailored to their needs and style preferences.

Daily tasks encompass various responsibilities, such as:

• Preparing eyewear
• Fitting and adjusting eyewear
• Educating customers about eyewear concerns and maintenance
• Maintaining sales records
• Determining insurance co-pays
• Managing inventory
• Collaborating with lens-manufacturing labs

It’s essential to note that as an optician, eye inspections for clients are not within your scope of practice.

Additionally, providing eyewear prescriptions is not permitted.

Optician Training in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, obtaining a license as an optician does not entail meeting specific criteria.

However, if your goal is to secure immediate employment, obtaining a license becomes necessary.

Many employers prefer candidates who passed the American Board of Opticians (ABO) exam.

You may also be required to take the National Contact Lens Examiner’s (NCLE) exam.

When applying for your first job as an optician, you typically need to demonstrate:

• Possession of a high school diploma or GED
• Completion of a training program or formal education
• An associate’s degree diploma, which employers highly value
• Strong interpersonal skills

Illinois College of Optometry

If you want to enroll in this school, there are some things you should know.

It’s essential to note that you should also verify the specific requirements outlined by the school.

Typically, you may be required to submit:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Completion of specific classes with a minimum grade of C
• Two letters of recommendation
• OAT scores (not older than 5 years)
• A minimum GPA of 2.75

Certain schools in this region offer an externship program lasting 120 hours.

The opticianry programs, in general, have a duration of around 7 months.

Throughout the program, you will engage in a combination of theoretical and practical classes, covering subjects like:

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

Certification or Licensure for an Optician in Illinois

Licensure is exclusively granted to individuals who have completed a training program.

In Illinois, the authority responsible for licensing is the State Board of Dispensing Opticians.

Candidates meeting one of the following criteria will become licensed:

• Possession of a license in a reciprocal state
• Accumulation of at least 3 years of relevant experience
• Completion of a 3-year apprenticeship within the past 6 years
• Experience as an optician in a state without licensing requirements
• Graduation from an approved post-secondary optician program, coupled with a year of apprenticeship

Additionally, candidates must pass the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE) administered by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO).

This focuses on spectacles and covers topics like:

• Reading prescriptions
• Fitting and dispensing spectacles
• Using standard ophthalmic equipment

Typically, the employer covers the $200 exam fee.

For those aspiring to dispense contact lenses, an additional exam, the National Contact Lens Examiners, is required.

This exam mirrors the difficulty levels of the ABO and is complemented by the Contact Lens Registry Examination (CLRE).

The $200 CLRE exam fee is usually covered by the employing company.

Topics include pre-fitting for lenses, diagnostic fitting, dispensing of lenses, patient education, delivery, and follow-up.

These certification tests are available in both English and Spanish.

Before sitting for the exams, candidates must submit various documents, including:

• ID that shows you are 18 years old
• A high school diploma or GED
• A completed application
• Payment of fees
• A clean criminal record
• Passing the State Practical Examination
• Evidence of completed training, education, or at least 3 years of experience

Optician Certification Renewal

Upon obtaining a license, individuals must undergo the renewal process.

For this, you must attend additional education hours.

These are available through seminars, conventions, and even through training schools.

Optician Salary in Illinois

If you want to work as an optician, you can work in:

• Retail stores
• Offices
• Optometry practices
• Hospitals
• Clinics

In Illinois, opticians usually make about $54,500 per year.

At the national level, opticians expect to earn around $53,100 on average, per year.

Of course, how much you earn will also depend on your location and how much experience you have.

Regional Salary in Illinois

Optician Schools by State