A morning "debate"....

**pezfaerie** · 02-05-2010, 01:02 PM

Define Optician, was the debate I got into this morning with a friend at work. Not so much that an optician is anyone working in the field filling rx, dispensing rx and selling glasses but how the State and National levels recognize an Optician. So if a person working in the field has not passed the ABO are they recognized as an Optician by state and nationally? Or does that fall under being a Dispensing Optician and if so, can’t anyone in the field call themselves a Dispensing Optician having not passed an exam? Ideas?

**kcount** · 02-05-2010, 01:52 PM

how about this? If its the case that the title optician or Dispensing Optician is a recognized term, how does one enforce the use of said title?

**Wes** · 02-05-2010, 02:18 PM

Some states say its anyone who calls themselves one. The OAA says its anyone who is ABO certified. Some states have laws that forbid anyone not licensed as an optician to call themselves such. Soooooo...

**pezfaerie** · 02-05-2010, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by kcount

how about this? If its the case that the title optician or Dispensing Optician is a recognized term, how does one enforce the use of said title?

I was wondering that myself. Who enforces if a person calls themselves a doctor, should't it be the same board that enforces any of the medical field? Do you think it matters to the general public if you had a radio commerical or ad that says "ABO certified Opticians...." ? I don't think the general public cares (unfortunately) they just want the best and cheapest when it comes to glasses not that the person selling it to them has taken the time to learn what they're selling.:(

**hcjilson** · 02-05-2010, 07:01 PM

Definition follows from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians Rules and Regulations.

Dispensing Optician - means an individual who prepares and dispenses lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, contact lenses and/or appliances thereto to the intended wearer or user thereof pursuant to written contact lens or eyeglass prescriptions from a duly licensed physician or duly registered optometrist, and who, in accordance with such prescriptions, interprets, measures, adapts, fits and adjusts such lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, contact lenses, or appliances to the human eyes and/or face for the purpose of aiding or correcting visual or ocular anomalies of the human eyes.