Optician Certification Training

Dr. Beverly Smith is a Doctor of Optometry and has been in private practice for more than 24 years. She also holds a Master of Business Administration and founded a consulting firm that helps new practitioners start and manage their own eye care practices. Throughout her career, Smith has taught many future opticians, certified paraoptometrics, and fellow optometrists. Her work has been published in the professional journals New O.D. and Women in Optometry.

• Prepare to take and pass the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) exam
• Learn how to understand and assign prescriptions to customers
• Develop an understanding of the human eye and its functions
• Understand corrective eye care solutions available for patients
• Learn how prisms and lenses work

What do Opticians do?

Opticians use data from prescriptions made by Optometrists or Ophthalmologists to help patients and customers fit glasses or contact lenses. They may take measurements of the ocular area, recommend appropriate frames or contact lenses and help fit and adjust frames or lenses as needed.

Is certification necessary for Opticians?

Many US states require certification for opticians. In those that do not, many clinics, eye health facilities and professionals require certification as a condition of optician employment. ABO certification generally meets both requirements. However, we do recommend researching the state requirements prior to pursuing a career as an optician.

What does the ABO exam involve?

The ABO exam covers ophthalmic science and a combination of ocular anatomy, principles of ophthalmic products and instruments, dispensing procedures and legal considerations for opticians.

What skills are important for Opticians?

Opticians need to be able to read and fill prescriptions, calculate formulas, use ophthalmic equipment, keep up with eyewear styles and trends, relate to patients, and understand human eyes and the difficulties and diseases they encounter.