Is everyone certified?

[2020Karen]

I am just curious of all the dispensing opticians on here, how many are certified? Or licensed? I just took the NOCE a week ago Sunday, I hate that it takes so long to get results.

[HarryChiling]

I don't know if everyone is certified or not, but some are definately certifiable.:D

[Ladyoptician]

Licensed in my state and NCLE cert, not that the latter makes a hill of beans of difference!!:hammer:

[a1vo]

In 2004, 2 of the major (national) retail chains I worked have requirement that all new hire must have ABO certification. Existing employee must pass ABO in 3 years. At least in California.

Never heard any store require NCLE certification. Though, with NCLE probabily get you 1 extra dollor per hour:) .

[a1vo]

Again, in California

My experience is that only store manger is required to have a Medical Board of California's "Registered Spectacle Lens Dispenser" license.

I have not seen any "dispensary only" store who sell contact lenses have a CA State "Registered Contact Lens Dispenser" license posted unless they also fit the contact lens. Somehow I wonder is that leagel??

[Grubendol]

Been doing it for 15 years, still haven't gotten licensed....still want to though...but this year's test just fell too close to my wedding.

[Audiyoda]

15+ years and certified for over 10 of them. IMO, it used to be worth it. Now....I'm not so sure. Someone I used to work with just took the exam for the sixth time - really...how hard is it to pass a multiple choice exam with a 70% where you'll most likely find 1/3 of the answers answered by other questions on the exam? It boggles my mind that he's still employed - then again, I left that organization for a reason....

[Snitgirl]

Been doing it for 15 years, still haven't gotten licensed....still want to though...but this year's test just fell too close to my wedding.

Hi Grub..Same boat as you, dispensing for a long time (21 years) and never certified.

When I came across Ed's challange on Optiboard I decided to just go for it even though the OD's in California really discourage certification. Well, all the OD's that I worked for. I was always told, "what do you need that for, you don't need that, you do just fine"

I know the certification is just a silly piece of paper in California, but its good to set personal goals and continue to learn more about Optics especially since its my career. Even though I hate taking test (I am a horrible test taker), I am going to shoot for the ABOC-AC & NCLE-AC now that I just finished taking the Canadian Optician and Contact Lens Practitioner Exams. I'm going to make time for it!

[2020Karen]

I was suprised at the content on the test, harder than I thought but I have just a little lab experience. The store I am at now does not have their own lab. I hope I passed, I'll feel so stupid if I didn't! It's not required I get certified or licensed but I'd just like to for my own peace of mind. I am the store manager.

[lensgrinder]

...but its good to set personal goals and continue to learn more about Optics especially since its my career.

I, for one, applaud you for this and wish you the best. Too many times in our profession we find people who do no think it is worth it to get some sort of cetification. I think that you need to get certified even if it does not mean anything. It gets you on the road to learning about you profession. We can argue whether states should have certifications, whether the ABO is watered down, whether the ABO-AC is whatered down, but all in all I think they get some people on the path to learning more about there field.

[Grubendol]

Hi Grub..Same boat as you, dispensing for a long time (21 years) and never certified.

When I came across Ed's challange on Optiboard I decided to just go for it even though the OD's in California really discourage certification. Well, all the OD's that I worked for. I was always told, "what do you need that for, you don't need that, you do just fine"

I know the certification is just a silly piece of paper in California, but its good to set personal goals and continue to learn more about Optics especially since its my career. Even though I hate taking test (I am a horrible test taker), I am going to shoot for the ABOC-AC & NCLE-AC now that I just finished taking the Canadian Optician and Contact Lens Practitioner Exams. I'm going to make time for it!

I'm actually a pretty good test taker, but I always put it off because this wasn't really what I planned on having my career be. I wanted to teach...still do, but I realize I'm in this field for quite a while longer, so I might as well be as proficient as possible in it....Optiboard has gone a long way to doing that for me....I now am the Lab Manager and Office Manager...a year ago I was just another "sales" optician.

[Framebender]

in 1978, the guy I worked for paid for me to take the ABO & NCLE. I passed and then he got me licensed to a location in California. Do they still do that?!? Not license you as a person, but tie you to a location?? I let the NCLE lapse when I moved out here to Colorado in 1987. I still keep the ABO though and I am a member of my state association.

[a1vo]

in 1978, the guy I worked for paid for me to take the ABO & NCLE. I passed and then he got me licensed to a location in California. Do they still do that?!? Not license you as a person, but tie you to a location??

Kind of.

To open a dispensary in CA, you need a "Register Dispensing Optician" (RDO) license. Anybody or leagel entity can apply for a RDO license with a RSLD number on the application form. RSLD - "Registered Spectacle Lens Dispenser" - is issued by the State Medical Board as an optician license. RDO is tie to a store and RSLD is tie to a person. But RDO requires a RSLD. You need to pass ABO in order to apply RSLD. This is how things work in California nowaday.

Doctors can add dispensary to the business without above requirement.

[Bev Heishman]

Certified ABO/NCLE as well as Master Certified and Advanced certified NCLE.

[2020Karen]

From what I've heard in Arizona, stores that are owned by Doctor's run off the Doctor's license so you do not need a LDO (Licensed Dispensing Optician) on staff but that if you are a store not owned by a Doctor, you need someone licensed in the store at least 32 hours a week. But then I also heard that AZ in NOT a state that requires a license. I don't know where to look to find out for sure. Anyone else here from AZ?

[Framebender]

If you go to www.nao.org , in the Additional Information section, you'll find State Opticianry Boards. That should give you information about your state and who to contact.

Good luck to you!!

[HarryChiling]

Go to the OAA's web site at www.oaa.org click on the links section than state licensing boards and not only will you get their contact information, but what requirements their are for licensure.

[harry a saake]

licensed since 1974 in ny,dropped, licensed currently in N.C. and georgia, formerly licensed in tenn and south carolina, dropped, abo certified twice and ncle certified twice, also dropped

[cocoisland58]

Twice actually. Took the ABO in 1989 just for the heck of it since I had been in the business ten years. Let it lapse while having children before there was such a thing as on-line CEs etc. Took it again two years ago because my boss wanted me to and paid for it. Glad I did though what difference it makes I don't know. Will look good on my resume if I need a job.

[SarahMP584]

I am! both certified and licensed, ABO and NCLE....

5 years ago as I watched my mentor slave over an edger all day, I never thought I would get licensed....

Yet here I am!

:cheers:

[GOS_Queen]

I am ABOC in a non licensed state. I work in a non-dispensing, administrative type position now and have decided to keep it as long as I work in the "eyeball" field ;)

[spazz]

ABOC and licensed in VA.

[Bezza]

SMC(tech) and currently in 2nd year of ABDO course.....hehehe just thought i'd throw in a random UK qualification amongst this mass of US ones.

[JennyP]

Licensed in TN, which these days requires both ABOC and NCLC to achieve but doesnt yet require that you STAY certified, just that you get your 4 & 4 CEs each year. BTW, some of these classes are pretty GOOD!
This topic reminds me: gotta send in my CEs report and $$ before the end of the year to renew one of the certifications. I prefer to stay "certified" in case that rule gets changed too.

[Judy Canty]

Licensed in VA w/Contact Lens Certification, Refractometry Grad as well.