Certified Optician map

[bta89]

I saw a google map the other day of certified ABO opcticians. Does anyone have a link to this?

[ThePinkRanger]

A new app called Optician Go?

[Craig]

It is by Harry Chilinguerian and at MakeOptics

[Tallboy]

I just noticed I'm not listed on Make Optics map

[bta89]

Does anyone have a link to it? I tried looking for it but no success

[MakeOptics]

Does anyone have a link to it? I tried looking for it but no success

I keep the site out of search engines to avoid unnecessary traffic and make it available to those in the know. ; )

https://makeoptics.com/harrychiling/...rtificants-map (I will update it soon)

[mervinek]

Yeah! I'm on the map! I feel special

[MakeOptics]

Yeah! I'm on the map! I feel special

Testing confirms you are special, just look at the research. (the good kinda special)

[rbaker]

I just checked out the map. If it is accurate it indicates that far fewer than 10% of the so-called "opticians" are "certified" by the ABO. So whats the big deal?

[MakeOptics]

I just checked out the map. If it is accurate it indicates that far fewer than 10% of the so-called "opticians" are "certified" by the ABO. So whats the big deal?

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs for Dispensing Opticians and Lab Techs:

DO = 75,200
LT = 27,990

The certificants in the ABO-NCLE database = 82,772
ABO and ABO-AC = 61,301 of those 28,230 are actively certified.
Adavnced and Active = 203

So 80% of the field can be filled with certificants,
roughly 59% are ABO certificants,
and only 27% hold an active certification,
only 0.2% of positions are filled with advanced or higher certificants.

[merrymaker]

and i wouldn't be listed because...?

[CCGREEN]

OMG I need to get out more often.....out of 11 listed names in my area I only recognized 2. And Im not talking about mine or my wifes. Neither of who made the list.
So now we have to question the accuracy of the data gathered. I have been here in Panama City 35 years of more being Florida licensed and Florida Board certified and also ABOC and NCLE certified. Never a lapse in keeping everything updated and in valid order.
My wife has been the same way for close to 20 years now. And we didn't even make the list....along with many others in the area that have all the necessary qualifications.
Now all that being said.....sorry......I have to call BS on this list and the accuracy of.
If there are those out there that can make the list and are not there......how many more out there do not qualify for the list and are there? As I said BS. Pffttt!

[jentos]

I'm missing as well :/

[CME4SPECS]

I know a few people that are certified and are not on this map, so it's not very accurate. Thanks for doing it though.

[iD]

so only one in my city....I thought there would be more

[mervinek]

I know a few people that are certified and are not on this map, so it's not very accurate. Thanks for doing it though.

There are a lot in my area that are not on the map. It is cool though. Where is the information gathered from? My name has the name of my office and office location, where some people I know do not have their office name and home location. Just curious.

[CME4SPECS]

I just looked again and the 3 from our town that were listed are not there now. I am there now and another is there that wasn't before, although the info on me is incorrect, my ABO has not expired, I am current until 12-2018.

[rbaker]

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs for Dispensing Opticians and Lab Techs:

DO = 75,200
LT = 27,990

The certificants in the ABO-NCLE database = 82,772
ABO and ABO-AC = 61,301 of those 28,230 are actively certified.
Adavnced and Active = 203

So 80% of the field can be filled with certificants,
roughly 59% are ABO certificants,
and only 27% hold an active certification,
only 0.2% of positions are filled with advanced or higher certificants.

Do bear in mind that the BLS Statistics do not include "clerks," "frame stylist," "eyewear consultants" and "my girl out front that will help you with your glasses." I have absolutely no idea where they cobble up these numbers particularly in the State that have no licensing or registration. Its just more Government gobbledygook.

[Uncle Fester]

I have absolutely no idea where they cobble up these numbers particularly in the State that have no licensing or registration. Its just more Government gobbledygook.

From the census or IRS?

[mervinek]

Dear God....not the IRS! Next they'll be targeting opticians!

[MakeOptics]

so only one in my city....I thought there would be more

That'll be fixed in the next update, the ABO only provides cities and states with names. When geocoding them the markers get placed on top of each other. In the update I plan on adding a list when more than one person is listed for a city, state and their geocoded data is not unique.

[plculver]

Who should we contact if we're not on the map, but should be?

[MakeOptics]

Who should we contact if we're not on the map, but should be?

I pull the data from the ABO and gecode it, but they provide sparse geographic info city, state, zip which is enough to map everyone, but if multiple people with the same city, state, and zip are in the data the markers overlap so the last person in the table is shown. I need to redo the script, the way it is right now doesn't incur any fees from Google api but if I recode it I will have to use their newer api and build on the fly with lat and long for geocoding so when their is overlap I can add a negligible amount to either lat or long to prevent overlap. I have the solution just not the time. The database is less than a year old currently but needs updating. At some point I will also automate the data collection from the ABO and schedule it to run on major testing dates when their database is updated. Keep in mind I am not getting the data willingly from the ABO and they probably don't know I have a mirror of their database. I have attempted to offer my services even volunteer to provide the code for their site, but the organization being what it is just prevents anything new and fresh from happening. Data can be represented in interesting ways and the map was originally a teaser with a jobs report provided by merging in census data, BLS data, and licensing data to provide a job statistics report which would allow an optician to gain a competitive advantage when negotiating salary. It pays to know, but their wasn't enough interest to take it any further.

[newguyaroundhere]

Not on the map but then again living in Pittsburgh probably creates a mess for this map

[lensmama]

I'm in!! :)