Examination | Supervisors | Apprentice Laws and Rules | Apprentice Guidance Manual | Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility and Scope
To be eligible to become a dispensing optician, applicants must:
- Be 18 years or more of age.
- Have graduated from an accredited high school or received a general education development (GED) diploma.
And meet one of the following training options:
- Completed an apprenticeship program in Washington state.
- Five years of out-of-state experience.
- Completed a prescribed course in opticianry approved by the secretary of health.
Dispensing optician apprenticeships allow applicants to work for a minimum of three, but up to six, years under an approved supervisor to earn the 6,000 hours required to qualify for a full dispensing optician license. Apprenticeships allow applicants the opportunity to receive on the job training and to learn the skills and knowledge needed to practice and pass a required examination to qualify for licensure.
Examination
General Information
To qualify for licensure, an applicant must have successfully passed one of the following examinations:
| Date Passed | Required Examination |
|---|---|
| On or After June 1, 2015 |
The American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE) basic competency examination, basic contact lens examination, and the practical examinations. or The ABO-NCLE advanced competency examination, advanced contact lens examination, and the practical examinations |
| On or Before August 31, 2017 | The Washington state-administered examination |
If you passed an ABO exam, the ABO practical, an NCLE exam, and/or the NCLE practical on or after June 1, 2015, you don't need to retake any of the exams you passed. You're eligible to be licensed in Washington if you also meet all other licensing requirements. If you took any of these exams before June 1, 2015, you'll need to retake them.
These changes to exam administrators do not affect current license holders and people who have already passed all sections of the state examinations.
Registration and Resources
Registration information for the ABO and NCLE exams, including test sites, exam schedule, deadlines, study guides, and practice exams is on the ABO-NCLE website.
Supervisors
A primary supervisor can be a:
- Licensed optician
- Licensed optometrist
- Physician
Supervisors must register with the Department of Health (DOH) by providing information and a signature on the Dispensing Optician Apprentice paper application (PDF) or the Approved Supervisor Statement (PDF) for apprentices that apply online. The primary supervisor is responsible for apprenticeship work and must provide a majority of training and supervision.
DOH recommends using the Apprentice Guidance Manual (PDF) to ensure apprentices receive a comprehensive overview of the essential skills required to practice and dispensing optician laws and rules.
Apprentice Laws and Rules
Registration of an apprentice must be requested by a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or chapter 18.71 RCW, an optometrist licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW, or a dispensing optician licensed under chapter 18.34 RCW. Application for registration is required.
Apprentice Guidance Manual
See our recommended guidance manual (PDF).
The dispensing optician apprentice manual can be used to provide guidance and resources to properly complete dispensing optician apprenticeships in Washington State. Within this manual you can find recommended training plans, RCW and WAC review, exam preparation resources, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apprenticeship Requirements
- May I work as an apprentice without being registered?
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No. You must be registered with the secretary of the Department of Health before you can work as an apprentice dispensing optician.
- How many apprenticeship hours are required?
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To be eligible for dispensing optician licensure, an apprentice must complete at least 6,000 hours of certified apprenticeship training in no less than three years, but no more than six years.
- How long does the apprenticeship last?
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The apprentice is registered for six calendar years. The six-year period continues whether or not a person is actively engaged in the practice of an apprentice dispensing optician.
Supervision
- What if my supervisor is not available to supervise me all of the time?
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If your primary supervisor is not available to provide supervision for you where you work, you may be supervised by another qualified supervisor. No supervisor may have more than two apprentices under their direct supervision at any one time.
- What do I do if the supervisor leaves?
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If your primary supervisor is no longer able to act as your primary supervisor for any reason, you may not continue to work. You must submit an application to the Department of Health to be registered under a different primary supervisor. The secretary of health must approve the application before you begin your work as an apprentice under the new primary supervisor.
- How do I notify DOH that my supervisor is changing?
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When the supervisor will no longer act as your primary supervisor, he or she must send a training certificate to the Department of Health. The training certificate must show the beginning and ending dates that you were under that person's supervision and give the number of apprenticeship hours you completed during that time. To be removed from your supervisor's license, he or she must select the box to remove an apprentice from his or her license.