New to Florida - Need some help!

[ShellyJaffer777]

Hello! I recently moved to Florida from Indiana where I was a Dispensing Optician for 10 years. My experience means virtually nothing in Florida. I am currently working as a frames stylist at a boutique. I am searching for someone in the bay area who would be willing to train me on a patternelss edger. I can pay a small hourly fee or a set amount. Not too much however, as I am not earning Opticians salary down here. I took a seven dollar an hour paycut!!! Anyone who can help. please let me know. Thanks.






Shelly Jaffer, Not quite an Optician in Florida!

[Diane]

Shelly,

Why not check with Laurie Pierce or Bill Underwood at:

Hillsborough Community College
Ophthalmic Dispensing
William Underwood, Program Director
Laurie Pierce, Faculty
P.O. Box 30030
Tampa, FL 33630-3030
(813) 253-7430

Laurie is one of our moderators.

Or you may check with the Professional Opticians of Florida at
850/201-2622.

Diane

[Homer]

Sorry for the difficulty. I have been in this business since 1964 and have advanced certifications, and if I wanted to move to Florida, they would make me feel like a nothing too!

This is why I am against any kind of new movement to licensure that is not nationally uniform and recognizes experience and education obtained in unlicensed states.

Had a guy come the the other day for replacement temple tips. His new glasses had become damaged, so in the process of replacing temple tips, as customary here, check all screws, oil hinges and check the alignment of multifocal & PALs. Had trouble finding the marks on the progressive and then discovered that I was looking in the wrong area ..... hmmm ..... found that one of the lenses was edged at least 10 degrees off. So I asked about how long he had the glasses and was he having any trouble wearing them. He said they were about two weeks old and yes, he was not comfortable in them - that's why they were in his pocket and fell out and were damaged.

After twisting the lens to obtain some kind of alignment and refitting the glasses, he said they were much better. Then he said, "Plese move the lenses back into the frame position and put the markings back on the lenses so I can show my wife who has been an optician for several years" "We are visiting here from FLORIDA!"

While this could have come from anywhere, It is not the first time I have see crappy glasses from FLORIDA! (we live in a tourist town) Guess I was really surprised that the spouse of a LICENSED FLORIDA OPTICIAN would be given such ****!

On the other hand, perhaps licensing is not so much about protecting the public as it is about economic protectionism.

Yup, Shelly, they just want to keep you from practicing your profession ...... until you have paid your dues!

Your situation is a GREAT bad example for licensing.

[Jeff Trail]

Shelly,

Do you have the ABO or NCLE? ... If you want to move it a long faster than you can go through the Optical program at H.C.C ...instead of the mandatory amount of hours in sponsorship.
Also you may want to call someone on the board and actually CHECK to see if your time is able to transfer..paycheck stubs and such are going to be required, you can go before the board and argue your case maybe... I know a couple of people who sit on the FL. State board, call this number and talk to this guy he will possibly be able to help you ..386-253-2020, ask for Harry Reilly Sr.

Jeff "also fell through the cracks here in FL." Trail

[Pete Hanlin]

I recently moved to Florida from Indiana where I was a Dispensing Optician for 10 years. My experience means virtually nothing in Florida.
Not to disuade you from seeking a formal education (which is a good thing), but your experience in Indiana does mean something in Florida.

If Indiana is an unlicensed state, and if you can get someone to sign a notarized letter that you have been a dispensing optician for five years of more, you are exempt from the apprenticeship and/or education requirement and are qualified to sit for the Boards.

Of course, you will also need to be ABOC and NCLC. When I arrived in Florida (from Pennsylvania), all I had to do was procure letters from my former employers (a letter from a rep who saw you for at least five years will also suffice), some old W-2s, and complete my NCLC. I took the Boards- which are depressingly easy- and passed.

Good luck, and let us know if you need further information.

[ShellyJaffer777]

Thanks for all the great replies. I did end up calling HCC today and recieved some info on the program. As I was never formally trained on lab work - well, I do need to learn and HCC told me that that is part of the program. Depending on the fees and tuition, I just may do that.

I was suprised to find out that I cannot even call myself an optician legally. Is this true or just a misunderstanding?

[Pete Hanlin]

In Florida, Opticianry is a licensed profession. Therefore, a non-licensed practitioner cannot present him/herself as an Optician. The same goes for presenting yourself as an Optometrist (or any other licensed profession) if you are not licensed by the state.

As I mentioned earlier, however, it sounds as if you are entitled to take the state boards based upon your experience in Indiana. Is Opticianry a licensed profession in Indiana?

[Homer]

Were you practicing independently in Indian country before?

If not, which is quite possiable, then get into the same situation and come up with a creative name for opticianry! Keep on doing what you know to do and like to do but don't be intiminated by the name. You could be called an Optics Design Specialist, and Eyewear Consulatant or Visual Device Designer or anything that that you and OD or MD that you work for can come up with. The important thing is that you continue in your chosen profession, educate yourself, and make a good living from it - that's what the so-called licensed opticians are doing.

Of course if it is important to be recognized by other opticians and to carry that name exclusively, then your will have to jump through their hoops.

OK, I am being cynical ..... but I am making a point.

[ShellyJaffer777]

Indiana is a non licensed state. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can call themselves an optician. People come from Mcdonald's (no disrespect to them) one day and are an optician the next. They kill the pay scale in Indiana. Fortunately, I had apprenticed with an certified optician in an od's office for several years and felt that gave me the right to ask for higher pay, but most of the chain stores would only pay around 6.00 an hour...But you could call yourself an optician....lol. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, the licesned people I have worked with here are far and away more adept than the vast majority of opticians I worked with in Indiana. You cannot imagine the remakes I saw working at a chain. Simple things like frame adjustments would have solved many problems that these "opticians" couldn't figure out. Also, these "opticians" would be quick to criticize another opticians work or an od. This to me is very unprofessional. So, I guess you can call yourself anything, but if you can't walk the walk, then.....I am totally validating why I should get licensed...WOW! Talk yourself into a corner, why dontcha!!! :idea:

[Texas Ranger]

Shelly, you're working as a "frame stylist", and want to pay someone to train you on a patternless edger, which one? and really, why? are you going to seek work in a finish lab area? or does the "boutique" folk want you doing lab work when not "stylin'"? actually I understand that good finish lab techs do pretty well in Fla, likely as well as dispensing without a license... btw, I really don't understand the requirements in most license states to be competent in CL fitting...

[ShellyJaffer777]

Texas, my boss tells me I can get an increase in salary if I can edge lenses. She has one gentleman who edges, but he is being really manipulative right now and deamndsing a pay increase or he will quit. So, she would like to have herself covered without having to hire another employee.

[Laurie]

Hi Shelly,

Great to see you here!

We are on summer break, but still communicating with students in regard to registration.

Are you closest to Tampa or Ft. Myers?

I look forward to meeting you at Orientation in August, and please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

: )

Laurie

[Laurie]

Hello Again,

I forgot to mention:

You have options in regard to the learning venue...either campus-based, or via Internet, or a little of both. You also receive college credit for your hands on work in an optical lab and dispensary during your time in the degree program. (We will help you find a lab).

It sounds as though you already have alot of experience in dispensing...you will likely be able to complete those exams without alot of prep time.

And, our Premier member, Jeff Trail, is an alumni of our very first graduating class/Internet, 2002. He is a great teacher as well.

: )

Laurie

[wmcdonald]

It is important to remember that any true profession will require some effort. Not some OJT for a few years! We in Opticianry have such diverse backgrounds that it may be impossibe to come to grips with who and what we are. For example, Texas Ranger questions the need for CL education and training in licensed states. Quite frankly, CLs are still an important part of what opticians do in the eastern part of the country and the need for training is part and parcel of what we do. In Texas, they do not fit lenses. Opticians in different regions of the country have been trained so differently, and seem to fight to maintain however THEY were trained as the primary vehicle for us all. We MUST re-define ourselves to ever get anywhere, and that is the major hurdle we have been attempting to clear for as long as I can remember. I am glad Florida has stiff requirements, as well as my own NC and most surrounding staes. You will be to once you clear the hurdles and obtain licensure. But beware, the amount of knowledge needed to pass the licensing requirements is not easy. I wish you luck and hope all goes well. Licensure and mandatory education should be required of any Optician, and the title should mean something. Go for it. Laurie and Bill will help, and don't forget the profeessional association down there, the POF. Mark Miller runs a great organization and they can help you as well.

Best regards!

[Texas Ranger]

wmcdonald, I wouldn't say I so much question the need for an education in CLs, and there are opticians in Texas who regularly fit CLs, and at one time had their own seperate association. When pursueing licensing legislation in years past, we held our ground to protect CL fitting opticians. what I am saying or questioning, is that, do most opticians in licensed states actually do any more CL fitting than I do, where we don't routinely fit CLs? It just seems "protectionist" in nature. historically, in Texas, you either fit CL or glasses, it was and is highly the exception for any optician to fit both; so the question is, at this late date in my career, hypothetically, if I wanted to move to Florida, where I was born and have family, or to Ct, to escape the heat, how would I best prepare to learn more about CLs? Is ther a "practical" exam, and where would an old, independent optician get practical training/experience? I'm all for education, all for licensing, just think CL and eyeglass licensing should be seperated...

[wmcdonald]

Texas Ranger:
I understood the post, but quite frankly if we are to ever advance we must develop a sphere of knowledge and practice that ALL Opticians must meet. Arguably, no one will be injured with a pair of specatcles, but CLs can cause significant harm if incorrectly fitted. It is important (my opinion only) for us to do more than simple spectacle dispensing to attain any type of professional stature, which is my goal. In many jurusdictions, most of those who call themselves opticians know little about optics. That makes it difficult to understand complicated spectacle issues and has removed most from fitting CLs. I understand your position, but unfortunately moving from state to state may be difficult until we have some standards developed for all Opticians. Licensing is a state issue, but our professional organizations can provide a vehicle by which we redefine ourselves across the country. I do not wish to debate the licensing issue...it is old news, but I do feel strongly that it is needed. But first we need to know who and what we are!

Best regards,
Warren

[Texas Ranger]

wmcdonald; I do really agree with you on the education/ licensure issue, I think, but to a point. I do believe that many folks "could" study to "pass" the CL competency standards, but that wouldn't necesarily make them competent in a practical sense, and yet a state might licenses them to do so? So, far as the relative incomepency in "optics" by many "opticians; you're right there, but that's generally in non-licensed states, and primarily among optical retailers trying to fill seven day a week opticals running mall hours, very bad situation. I think it would be much more beneficial for opticians to have a good knowledge of refracting and applied optics, relative to the practical area that they would normally work, be licensed in CL fitting, glasses fitting, and or both, but not both required. Here, I can fit CL if I pay the state a $300 fee, period, I don't dispense enough to justfy this; folks want CL, we refer them to the OD next door, no problem, there is no way really to do CL fitting profitably, as an independent optician, is there?
the other part of the question was how would one get the necessary training to become competent enough to pass the CL portions of a state exam and of course the NCLE exams? Especially when there are no schools nearby, nor doctor's practice to intern in?

[wmcdonald]

It might not make them competent, but it at least shows something! Training must be done where we find it. You could train anyone to do anything through OJT programs (and in years past even physicians trained that way...), but if what we do requires education and training to be done correctly, then those that want to become Opticians need to go to the school. Many states don't have Optometry Schools, but they have ODs. The knowledge base that Opticians need today cannot be effectively taught in an apprenticeship. There are Distance Ed programs currently available anywhere that are excellent. Specific to contact lenses, your point is you don't do enough of them, so you refer them out. Fine, don't do them, but I still feel that anyone that calls themself an optician should be trained in FITTING CLS...not dispensing. It takes NO training to hand someone a bottle! We are talking professional responsibility here, and my entire point is that we need to know who and what we are. We need to define ourselves. If that includes CLs or only spectacles, then so be it, but it needs to be done. Continuing to talk about what we do from state to state is useless. I want Opticians to be more professional, and I think you do as well. We will NEVER reach our goals if education and training are not an integral key. Lastly, I have been in just about every state in the UNion in the past few years, and had the pleasure to interact with a large number of Opticians from both licensed and unlicensed states. There are some good and bad everywhere! A license won't make someone competent, just require them to have a basic introductory knowledge of the material. An education will assure an even higher level of professional Optician.

Warren

[Bimmer]

If you decide to move to the ft. laud area get in touch with me