student holding up a pair of glasses and looking at them closely

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Janet Alspaugh
Director

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Stephanie L. Toomer
Admissions Counselor
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* This program is financial aid eligible.

Opticianry

Long Term

The Opticianry curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to adapt and fit corrective eyewear or ophthalmic devices as prescribed by the ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Students will acquire competencies in all phases of opticianry, including analysis and interpretation of prescriptions; surfacing, benchwork, dispensing, and fitting of eyewear and ophthalmic devices; maintenance of consumer records; effective communication with consumers; and business management skills.

Graduates will qualify to take certification examinations given by the American Board of Opticianry, the National Contact Lens Examiners, and the North Carolina State Board of Opticians, as well as other state licensing boards.


The Opticianry program is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Opticians.

View more information about program and licensure outcomes, course participation, and the program's mission, goal, and objectives. Students also have the opportunity to gain experience in the on-campus Optical Shop.

How to Apply

Program applications are due July 15 for a Fall start or December 1 for a Spring start.

Before you Apply

View the Admissions Checklist. Attend an information session (recommended). They are listed in the Upcoming Events section below.

Apply to the College

New students who are not currently enrolled at Durham Tech should apply to the College using the Health Tech Students then Steps to Apply.

Apply to the Program

Prerequisites must be completed before applying to the program. Review the Admissions Checklist. Apply to the Opticianry program during the application period using the online Health and Wellness Admissions Application.

Estimated Tuition & Fees

$6,154

Degree Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Location

Main Campus, Online

Minimum Credit Hours

69

First-Semester Courses

Course Number Title Credit Hours
ACA-122 College Transfer Success 1
ENG-111 Writing and Inquiry 3
MAT-143 Quantitative Literacy 3
OPH-131 Optical Dispensing I 3
OPH-141 Optical Theory I 3
PSY-150 General Psychology 3

Suggested Paths

Short Term

(12 months or less)

Long Term

(More than 12 months)

University Transfer

headshot of Enzo Anchetta

“I really like how challenging the Opticianry Program is at Durham Tech. This field is something there will always be a need for. No matter how fast technology advances, there’s going to be someone behind the machines that needs to understand how things work and I look forward to fulfilling that role as a licensed optician.”

—Enzo Anchetta