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How complicated would it be for me to get a nevada state license if I wanted to move there?
I have both CA licenses and ABO/ncle, plus about 5 years experience....
at costco I would make ELEVEN MORE dollars an hour there than in california!
Anybody have any info? I looked at their website but if anyone knows first hand that would be great :cheers:
Quote:
Originally Posted by SarahMP584
:drop:
I wonder if they'd hire me ??
It was only $6 four years ago. I saw that in our new employee handbook and was like....:eek: .
If you move there I will go with you!
I have heard the state licensing is pretty high though, and I don't think you can just transfer your licenses into a state license.
Anyone here from NV??
http://nvbdo.state.nv.us/
you can find all the info you need there
Harry....you always have the answers. You are like my own little jedi.
Thanks!!;)
I think they used to grandfather over licenses years ago / i don't think currently they do ---i'm sure they would look at it but most likely you would have to take the state exam. the license is 350.oo a year to keep up and well worth it considering pay at wal -mart starts at $28.00 and hour.
You must have ABO, NCLE, Career Progression, and both CL Manuals completed, along with 3 years apprenticeship (of which I believe 1 must be in Nevada). Then you can take the state board. The exam includes a written and a practical. Expect to demonstrate use of the keretometer (on a board member), slit lamp (on a board member), radiuscope, etc. After licensure, the CE requirements include on-site classes. You cannot do them all by mail-in courses.
Yes, compensation is higher, much higher.
CCSN offers an associate's degree in opticianry. Excellent program! I highly reccomend it. Please PM me to let me know where you are trying to go. Good luck, and welcome to Nevada!
Thanks victor! It will be a while...My husband and I are considering it after I have my baby in october...I really just want to get out of California!!
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Originally Posted by SarahMP584
Really? I heard that California is perfect, and that the real estate prices are very reasonable ;) !
Best of Luck!!
I was waiting to see how many Costco people would be trying to find out what the deal is in NV! I just didn't want to be the first one to ask.
yes, the prices are great here, especially the coast. You can buy a great 3 bedroom fixer-upper for a mere $500K.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fezz
I worked a Costco, Sam's Club, and then Eyemasters as manager in AZ. As a licenced optician I pulled appx. $50k / year (+bonus). In AZ, each store must have one full time license. The license does not have to be on site at all times.Quote:
Originally Posted by William Walker
In Nevada, each dispensary must have a license on site in order to do any dispensing. AND that license may only have two apprentices dispensing under him/her. If a store needs more dispensers, they must hire another license. Thus, artificial demand for licenses. Thus, higher pay for licenses.
As a business owner, I invite all newcomers to get licenses so that the market will simmer down and I can actually afford a payroll. If we could get 20 or thirty of you guys over here, perhaps rates would drop to a more reasonable level.
Quote:
Originally Posted by victor
I may be misunderstanding this. Please correct if I am wrong.
Are you suggesting that Opticians are not worth the pay they are getting and you are advocating they make less? You are an Optician, right?
I guess this is sort of funny. When someone else is paying your way, you want top dollar, but, when you are footing the bill, you want to cheap out. Sounds like most business owners I have dealt with.
Victor, A Lot Of Small Shops Operating Around Here Have To Do Deal With The High Pay To Have A License To Operate. Thats Why Lens Crafters/ Nevada Eye An Ear/ And Countless Od's . Use 1 Primary License For A Day And Pay Them Overtime. The Doctors Don't Even Hire A License Most Of The Time / The License Is The Doctor And The Help Are Techs He Trains Or With A Little Knowledge. Lens Crafters Has Unlicensed Techs Making The Lens And 1 Or 2 Licenses , And The Rest Are Stylist. Once You Get The License Or Od Thats All You Really Need To Operate / Train Your Staff To The Best Of Your Ability And If You Apprentice Them They Will Leave Eventually. I'm Looking Forward To The Day When We Can Expand The Knowledge Of Licenses In Nevada If He/she Chooses To Maybe Be A Refracting Optician/ Low Vision Specialist/ Even A Diesease/diagnosis Optician Giving Valuable Insight To The Od/before He See's The Patients.\\
Oops-competence
Yes, I am a Nevada licensed optician. If the free market dictates that a starting optician is worth $30/hr, then I am all for paying them $30/hr. But if the state legislature imposes laws that make a starting optician in Nevada worth $30/hr while in Utah, that same optician would be worth $15/hr, then I disagree with the law.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fezz
Also, as a business owner, I am keenly aware of the legal advantages my O.D. competitors enjoy. In Nevada, O.D.s may pay their non-licensed untrained employees $8/hr to dispense with no supervision. I must pay a license in excess of $30/hr to dispense, and if there is no license "on the premises", then there can be no dispensing. The law arbitrarily dictates this.
I just want the free market to be unencumbered. BTW, I pay my people well, and since I have a license, I have chosen not to hire another one until my business is busy enough to warrant two licenses.Quote:
I guess this is sort of funny. When someone else is paying your way, you want top dollar, but, when you are footing the bill, you want to cheap out. Sounds like most business owners I have dealt with.
But, if I get sick, we are closed. Someone in my extended family dies, we must close for the funeral. Want to take a vacation? Close the store. They are pretty strict out here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by victor
Ok, now I understand a little better. Thank you.
But, I guess you could look at what an Optician(mechanic, plumber, etc.) is worth in a different state, and compare to yours. But its your state that matters. Example: An Optician makes more in NYC than in PA, why would I care about what the NYC makes? I run a business in PA. I could really care less what Utah, Ohio, & NYC are paying the Opticians, I know what I need to pay.
I know that the law you are dealing seems unfair to you...but it is what it is. Have you thought about working towards changing the law?
**This is not meant in a argumentative way, I am just trying to ubderstand the situation and your thinking**
As a free market capitalist, I am against most licenses. After all, a 16 year old takes an exam and gets to drive a car (with a great potential of harm to society and himself, perhaps even death). In Nevada, an optician must jump through many hoops and apprentice for 3 years in order to adjust a frame or hand out a box of Acuvue Oaysis. When was the last time you heard of a death from bad frame adjustments? Same goes for bad plumbing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fezz
I agree with you that I have to deal with what is. I don't see the advantage in trying to change the law (dead end and many enemies). Rather, I pay for my employees education at CCSN and try to develop as many licenses as possible in order to flood the market w/ licenses. That is why all newcomers are welcome by me.Quote:
I know that the law you are dealing seems unfair to you...but it is what it is. Have you thought about working towards changing the law?
**This is not meant in a argumentative way, I am just trying to ubderstand the situation and your thinking**
This is an important discussion. I enjoy the opportunity to discuss the benefits and drawbacks to state licensure.
Hi Sara! I'm a licensed optician in Las Vegas, and also an employee of Costco. Yes it is true, the pay is wonderful out here and optician's are very hard to come by in this state. As far as the requirements go, they have revised the Nevada statutes, making it a little harder on getting your license. But one good thing is that they have combined the exam into 1 dual test for both glasses and contacts. (When I took it, I had to sit for 2 seperate full day tests...BLAH!) Anyway, here are the requirements:
1. High school diploma or equivalent
2. Pass ABO
3. Successfully completed a course of study in a school which offers a degree of associate in applied science for studies in ophthalmic dispensing approved by the Board and has had 1 year of ophthalmic experience as an apprentice dispensing optician under the direct supervision of a licensed dispensing optician, licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist.
Has done all of the following:
4. Successfully completed a course of instruction on the fitting of contact lenses approved by the Board
5. Completed at least 100 hours of training and experience in the fitting of and filling of prescriptions for contact lenses under the direct supervision of a licensed dispensing optician authorized to fit and fill prescriptions for contact lenses, a licensed ophthalmologist or a licensed optometrist
6. Passed NCLE
7. Passed the practical examination on the fitting of and filling of prescriptions for contact lenses adopted by the Board
It does (normally) take about 3-4 yrs. to get all of this done, but is well worth it. Once you pass your state test, you then have to pay $300 a year to renew along with 14 CE's per year which 1/2 MUST be for contacts. And you cannot do all online. Our state board is not easy and they do not bend the rules for anyone. I have a friend who moved from Oregon and has been an optician for 18 yrs. She went in front of the board and stated her background experience (along with references), and asked for permission to sit for the test, and they denied her because she did not meet the requirements listed above. So granted we do make a heafty salary, they do not make it easy on us. Because Nevada is so short-handed on licenses, long hours and no personal life make it hard as well. So there's good and bad....Hope my info helps. If you have any more questions feel free to ask! I'll be glad to help!