"Optician" or Optician...?

[iD]

so for those who haven't had their license, what do you call them? people who help you with your glasses? the glasses man?

[Wes]

Hey, What the Heck are you concerned about. Here in Pennsylvania, we've got you all beat! Here, we can pull someone off the street (who can sell) and tell them to sell and call them an Optician. Opticians don't have to have any qualifications. They don't even have to know how to use a lensometer. What we really want is Mo Money! We sell transition lenses to old people who are confined to their bed in nursing homes. Mo Money! We sell cheap AR to roofers. We sell 1.67 hi index lenses to people who have a -0.50 sphere Rx OU. Why? Mo Money. Let them spiffs pile up. If they want to pay us $10 an hour, well, we have to make a living somehow. Let the public beware. Love it. We can double our take home pay just by selling people something they don't need. We're free in Pa. to call ourselves anything we want and nobody will say anything. New York state to our east and Ohio to our west both require licenses. But us, well, we just like it the way it is. The only thing is, you do have to be licensed to cut hair. Oh, well, maybe I can't call myself a barber.

SailorEd
"Certified" Optician

Please add a disclaimer noting that you speak only for yourself. The general public reads this board.

[CCGREEN]

The only thing I find confusing about this whole situation is that it is so confusing for everyone else.

I concur Wes.

I'm going for a haircut now. Guess I better check with the girl that's been cutting my hair for the last 8 years and find out if she is a Barber, cosmetologist or just a hair cutter.
OR
Licensed Barber, Licensed Cosmetologist or a Licensed hair cutter
OR
She might even only be a Apprentice Barber, Apprentice Cosmetologist or a Apprentice Hair Cutter.

Hummmmmmmmmm she's nice looking. Wonder what she was doing before?

[Tallboy]

I am only ABOC, I should probably get my ABOAC or ABOM or whatever, I will one day when I'm not so busy fitting, cutting, adjusting and problem solving the best darn glasses in my town (and 2 classes away from my bachelors in psych, minor in Bio).

I am in Maryland an unlicensed state, the only one I've ever known. That being said I know I would blaze through whatever the test is for the Virginia license. I would crush that test.

There is a possibility I may be moving to Gainesville Florida sometime in the next 2-5 years. I would have to apprentice and stuff to get my license I guess, if I did that I would take my lumps because its the Law. I'd still crush any practical or written test in FLA.

[Judy Canty]

A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.

At least better than the aforementioned turd.

[CCGREEN]

Tallboy not lacking in confidence now is he. Even boarding on arrogance. But if he is going to come to Florida may I suggest that you apply for reciprocity. Maybe they will give you credit for your time and knowledge in the business. You may be able to cut that three years down to a year and a half.
Now to share some wisdom with you. In all my 35 years of doing this in Florida, anytime I went for a interview the only question I was asked was if I have a current valid Florida Opticians License. I was never asked about NCLE, ABOC, ABOAC, ABOM, BOARD CERTIFICATION, What kind of degree I have. That choo choo train of letters after ones name is only for ones self. NOT how much you are going to get paid. The job market is only going to pay but X amount of dollars regardless of your education. If your not willing to accept that amount the market will pass you up and find someone that will.

[Tallboy]

I was kind of kidding about crushing the exam, kind of . I would definitely study hard for any test I needed to take to do this job in my state, but I would pass them.

Thanks for the advice, one of the best things about where I work now is that I don't feel purely expendable! That is worth something for sure.

[Uilleann]

The funniest thing about some of the attitudes shown in this thread is the silly assumption that a: certification/license/degree/alien-mind-control-implant somehow make any given person superior to their peers int he execution of their duties. I hope none of us are so naïve as to honestly believe you are the absolute top in your field, and better than anyone else, because of some class time, a paper written, or arbitrary letters after your name on your business card.

There is almost certainly someone smarter/faster/more adept than any of us here - and likely not by a small margin either. Smugness may snow some clients, but not all. And at the end of the day, the license/certification means naught to everyone happily wearing their new interweb specs, or for any other reason, not patronizing your shop. Pretending it to carry any more weight than that is folly.

Enjoy your coffee this morning folks.

[Paul Smith LDO]

The funniest thing about some of the attitudes shown in this thread is the silly assumption that a: certification/license/degree/alien-mind-control-implant somehow make any given person superior to their peers int he execution of their duties. I hope none of us are so naïve as to honestly believe you are the absolute top in your field, and better than anyone else, because of some class time, a paper written, or arbitrary letters after your name on your business card.

There is almost certainly someone smarter/faster/more adept than any of us here - and likely not by a small margin either. Smugness may snow some clients, but not all. And at the end of the day, the license/certification means naught to everyone happily wearing their new interweb specs, or for any other reason, not patronizing your shop. Pretending it to carry any more weight than that is folly.

Enjoy your coffee this morning folks.

My coffee is most delicious this morning, made specifically for me by my barista who went to school to receive his certification he also has his health card posted. I pay more for it because I care not for the swill at IHOP or Mc D and he finishes it off with a decorative leaf pattern. Uilleann, when we put you in the Optical Nut House would you prefer being classified as a certified, licensed, or just plain nut off the street. I intend to be classified as a Licensed Nut so that I can drool freely wearing my paper hat decorating the walls of the institution in crayon all the while basking in the knowledge of my smugness.

[CCGREEN]

Have to agree with you Uilleann. Last time I went to pay my power bill and tried to impress upon the clerk behind the window that I was highly knowledgeable and had a alphabet of letters to follow my name she looked at me with a unimpressed blank stare as she was chewing and popping her gum and said, "that's nice, we still need $175.". At which point I humbly handed her the money and walked away.

[Uilleann]

My coffee is most delicious this morning, made specifically for me by my barista who went to school to receive his certification he also has his health card posted. I pay more for it because I care not for the swill at IHOP or Mc D and he finishes it off with a decorative leaf pattern. Uilleann, when we put you in the Optical Nut House would you prefer being classified as a certified, licensed, or just plain nut off the street. I intend to be classified as a Licensed Nut so that I can drool freely wearing my paper hat decorating the walls of the institution in crayon all the while basking in the knowledge of my smugness.

Hehehe!

They won't give me crayons. I'm forced to stab my finger with a screwdriver in order to have something to draw with.

[MikeAurelius]

So, who's got a bigger macho? Schwarzenegger or Stallone?

[CNG]

I think I am biased but Florida is probably the best state to practice as an optician when you are self employed but it really sucks when you are employed because they do not pay well here. As for titles you can call yourself optical specialist rather than a simple optician an be safe...and you are a specialists!!!! Optical god or goddess is taken right? Really who cares?

CNG

[Happylady]

I've worked in both Maryland and Texas and neither requires anything for opticians. If you are helping people pick out frame and lenses, and taking measurements you can and probably do call yourself an optician.

Everyone where I work except one person has passed the ABO and is certified. I know some of you don't think much of it, but it's the best we have in Texas. It does take some knowledge to pass it.