Certification: Get It, Keep It

By Debbi Bennett, ABOC, NCLC-AC

Building a Career Through Certification

About 28 years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life: beginning a career in the optical field. This career encourages well-trained professionals to become ABO and NCLE certified, resulting in high-quality patient care. When practices invest in optician education, they not only strengthen the professional worth of the industry but also improve the care their patients receive.

Through structured training and certification, I achieved increasingly rewarding positions: lead dispenser, assistant manager, manager, and ultimately, training supervisor. My career demonstrates that when practices support their opticians through education and certification, there is an acceleration in optical growth and expertise. In turn, patients are cared for by highly motivated and educated individuals.

Why Certification Matters for Opticians and Practices

After many years of hands-on patient dispensing, I transitioned into an Optical Sciences Instructor, helping to shape the optical careers of individuals as they worked towards obtaining their ABO and NCLE certifications, with the understanding that these certifications hold great value to employers. Practice owners and managers can be confident that certified opticians give excellent service to patients, reflecting well on the business.

Education is first and foremost for both beginners becoming dedicated to optical dispensing for the first time, as well as for experienced opticians who endeavor to learn more about their craft and the science behind it. The education required to pass both the ABO and NCLE exams is a rewarding investment for both the individual optician and the practice. Structured training creates a clear pathway toward certification, helping opticians progress more quickly and confidently while ensuring practices can rely on a skilled, consistent team.

Training, Growth, and Lifelong Learning

A vast majority of opticians I’ve worked with have achieved certification and advanced in their own careers. Today, as an Optical Sciences Instructor online with a leading company, my commitment to supporting excellence through education and training is stronger than ever. Providing education and training through online platforms is personally rewarding and creates a cycle of learning that benefits practices directly. High-achieving, certified opticians stay up to date with the latest optical technologies, compliance standards, and patient care practices, ensuring the highest quality of service.

Supporting the Next Generation of Optical Professionals

Through writing, teaching, and tutoring, I endeavor to provide opticians with a peak learning experience. My continued personal goal is always to inspire each optician I meet as they pursue their own higher optical potential. For practice owners and doctors, supporting opticians on the path to ABO or NCLE certification not only helps them grow in their careers but also strengthens the quality of care and service the practice delivers. May all who read this small account of my journey find both challenge and fulfillment in advancing their own optical journey, and see the value in guiding others in our industry to do the same.