To become a Licensed Optician in North Carolina:

As a North Carolina resident, to become eligible to sit for the N.C. Opticianry Boards, the candidate must:
Complete one of the following:

• serve a 3.5 year apprenticeship in N.C., registered in a Board approved training facility; or
• receive a two-year degree in Opticianry or Ophthalmic Dispensing at a Commission on Opticianry Accreditation accredited program.

As an out-of-state resident, to become eligible to sit for the N.C. Opticianry Boards, the candidate must:

• apply to sit for the exam within 90 days of moving to N.C. from a non-licensed state, with 4 or more years of experience in a facility similar to an N.C. approved training facility.

Regardless of the state of residency, if the candidate did not receive a two-year degree from a COA accredited program, the candidate must also have completed one of the following:

• a certificate program offered by any Commission on Opticianry Accreditation accredited program, such as the Basic Opticianry program at Durham Technical Community College; or
• the NAO Career Progression Program.

Once the candidate has completed the 3.5 year apprenticeship or received a two-year degree in Opticianry or Ophthalmic Dispensing, the candidate must serve a minimum of a 6 month Internship in N.C. working in a Board approved training facility. The candidate may sit for the N.C. State Board of Opticianry examination either during or after the Internship period.

For more information about the N.C. Board of Opticians, for information about registering as an apprentice in North Carolina, and for information about applying to sit for the N.C. Opticianry Boards, please contact:

Sue Kornegay, Administrative Director
N.C. State Board of Opticians
Medical Society Building
P.O. Box 25336
Raleigh, N.C. 27611-5336
(919) 733-9321

Note: Application to Durham Technical Community College's Opticianry Apprentice Certificate program does not constitute application/registration for apprenticeship with the N.C. Board of Opticians.