Some years ago, I saw a MN Opticianry school on the school list.
But now, I could not find the school.
Does anybody know why the previous MN Opticianry school was closed?
Minnesota Opticianry School
Some years ago, I saw a MN Opticianry school on the school list.
But now, I could not find the school.
Does anybody know why the previous MN Opticianry school was closed?
Lack of interest. :(Originally Posted by eoptics
..
Last edited by Deleted1234; 10-20-2010 at 06:21 PM.
I do not remember but saw an opticianry college in MN.
I wonder what happened to the school.
If I remember right, the Anoka school's equipment and supplies were liquidated through a dealer in St. Cloud.
According to a program director of an Opticianry college in FL, the school hasn't seen any difficulties in recruiting students due to high number of applicants.
But in MN, what happened? Not enough applicants??? Is it the reason - MN doesn't require any Opticianry license unlike FL?
Probably the license issue. Why pay for school when you can learn it on the job and make the same money. It's why some of us are pushing for a Minnesota license law.
And on the other hand, why spend two years in school when you have the same credentials and pay as someone who has no schooling?
If only opticianry had a professional association that only admitted academically trained opticians (professionals?) perhaps the opticians could separate themselves from the eyeglass salespeople.
However, how can we explain the fact that the opticianry classes have been in good shape in PA where an opticianry license is not provided?
eoptics: Pa. has Chilly Harry.
Hey, that's not nice !!! Minnesota has ME !!! So what more do they need??
I believe the school in Anoka was just an optical lab class. When I was in MN we were hiring anyone we could get our hands on to work in the lab. It wouldnt make sense to pay for school for something you could learn for free.
Switzerland..................
Is where I started as an apprentice. 3, now 4, years working for a master optician, starting in the lab, 2 days of school a week. A school for all sorts of professions, like plumbers electricians and so forth.
After the full term you make a state examination and are qualified to work in any and ever canton (State) in the country. However you have to have the master accreditation if you want to be in charge of the store. This practice is valid and law across the whole country.
Myron Moe (an ABOM) was the program director for the program, and it was an opticianry program and lab program. I went on the last on-site evaluation, and felt that they had a good program. Lack of interest due to no licensure was probably the reason for closure. I hated to see it close.
Diane
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
I would find it rather hard to explain it!
I guess I would first have to figure out what classes in PA you are referring to!
Yeah, me too.
I would find it rather hard to explain it!
I guess I would first have to figure out what classes in PA you are referring to!
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Both Anoka and Evelth had Opticianry programs, with sufficient applicants to keep the programs rolling, as was the St.Cloud program designed for Labs and Manufacturing (I designed and taught that).
Welcome to education politics!
All our programs worked well except for a majority of our students being hired prior to graduation. I had 173 students in five years, with only 5 offical graduates.
Minnesota Higher Education realized for the amount of students graduating, versus the Average Pay realized by students entering the Optical Field, it was a poor reflection on them, with a Colledge grad making so little as compared to some other fields.
On top of that, the Colleges decided that equal pay could be achieved without the cost of education.
Strictly politics versus money.
Denny
Hi, Denny,
The above must be a real good answer on my primary question.
Thanks~!
My 2nd question is ...
Were those two programs accredited nationally at the time?
Eveleth and Anoka were both accredited for Opthalmic dispensing, Anoka offering a 2 year AA degree.
My Program was also accredited, as a one year Opthalmic manufacturing Diploma, plus had a 2 and a 4 year degree program setup for Opthalmic Manufacturing and Optical Design Technology. (In conjunction with St. Cloud State) Local Labs and Manufacturers loved the employment source, plus we did a load of specialized custom training nites and weekends. Most of my long term students were already supervisor level in the field already.
This was a joint venture with local Optical companies to start with.
As I understand Anoka, WAS accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation, which is the only accreditating agency for opticianry in the country. I am not familiar with the accreditation for Eveleth...who were they accredited by? There must be an agency that I'm not familiar with. ;)
Scope of practice: The COA accredits two-year opticianry degree programs and one-year ophthalmic laboratory technology certificate programs.
Diane
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
.....is probably what was being referred to here, Diane. The only accredited program in Mn was Anoka-Hennepin (Sp?) Tech, as defined by the COA, which accredits 2-year associate degree programs, and 1-year laboratory programs.
Anoka struggled for students despite having an excellent faculty. It is a shame the industry does not support education. This institution is a prime example. To become an Optician in 27 states requires no more than a pulse, and even in states that require something, we cling to the old apprenticeship-style "training" (vs. education) which was eliminated long ago by every other health-related "profession" I know of in this country. I understand Chris went through the German apprenticeship program, which was a highly-structured program that also requires significant levels of academic preperation. That kind of program may work here as well, but for us to remain viable (if we are now) we must educate ourselves. It is odd someone would bring the program up after all these years. The school has been gone for 10 years, if my aging memory serves me well.
Last edited by wmcdonald; 06-08-2009 at 01:49 PM.
What if a MN college provides internet opticianry degree programs combined with lab classes in various locations?
Can this make MN Opticianry program resurrected?:)
It will if we can get the right individual to run and promote the program. As a matter of fact, give me a PM and I can provide specific information for you to fix the problem. If you prefer, call my cell (910-818-1146) or send me yours and I'll call you.
Thanks. WMCDONALD~!
I 'll call you when I need your advice.
Thanks.:cheers:
Reform Opticianry Curriculum etc
As technologies have advanced, all products and services have evolved.
In the field of Optics, we have seen lots of evolution. For examples, camera, LCD , Mobile phone...
Now, nobody doesn't give any attention to analogue camera. Most end users want to buy the digital camera with wonderful improvement with high pixel, self focusing, less consuming battery power, more convenient, high zoom and so on.
Also, LCD technology has been revolutionized to the level of changing colors by length of light...
However, current US Opticianry programs are traditional.
I strongly believe that without reform of these programs, the opticianry future would not be bright. What I want to discuss with all of you are:
1. What should be the future model of opticianry? (Locus & Focus Field)
2. What should be the curriculum in order to back up the future?
:)
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