North Carolina
What are the continuing education requirements for license renewal in North Carolina?
- 8 hours, every year
- 4 Spectacle
- 3 Contact lens (or 2 Contact Lens and 1 on Business Management, Consumer Protection, or Ethics)
- 1 Board Instruction
- Out-of-state licensees: 8 hours, every year:
- 5 Spectacle
- 3 Contact Lens (or 2 Contact Lens and 1 on Business Management, Consumer Protection, or Ethics)
Allows Internet CE?
Yes, if provider is state board approved (OTI is an approved provider for 4 hours maximum online)
Is Optical Training Institute an approved continuing education provider in North Carolina?
Yes, licensed opticians in North Carolina can take any of our online continuing education courses on our website.
What is the Optician Development Program approved for in North Carolina?
At this time, ODP is not approved in the state of North Carolina for apprenticeship alignment. The program can be taken for training and ABO-NCLE exam preparation purposes only.
What are the requirements to become a licensed optician in North Carolina?
Requirements for Licensure as a NC Dispensing Optician
Residents
As a resident, there are three ways to qualify for the Exam for opticianry licensure in the state of North Carolina:
(1) graduation from an accredited school of opticianry (such as Durham Technical
Community College (DTCC) https://www.durhamtech.edu/ ) with a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Opticianry, then passing the Licensure Examination and serving a six-month Internship while registered with the Board in an approved Training Establishment (TE);
(2) possession of a four-year degree in a health-related field, inclusive of the optics-specific courses required as a part of the AAS-Opticianry degree. (The Board will review the curriculum from these applications for acceptance.) Passing the Licensure Examination, and completion of the six-month Internship described above is also required;
-OR-
(3) completion of a 2 ½ year Apprenticeship (or 3 ½ years, if registered prior to Nov 1, 2016) at an approved TE under a registered trainer. ‘Completion’ means having completed the on-the-job training and having finished a Board-approved certificate program (DTCC’s Certificate Program or the National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) Career Progression Program). Once a candidate has completed Apprenticeship, passed the Licensure Examination and served a six-month Internship while registered with the Board in an approved TE, a license can be issued.
NOTE: The DoD/MOS optical training made available to military personnel is deemed comparable to the Board Apprenticeship program; personnel providing documentation of successful completion of a MOS in opticianry are Exam- and Internship-eligible.
Applicants from unlicensed states who don’t possess the above requirements would not qualify
for Exam participation; they would be required to complete the Board’s Apprenticeship program
or obtain an AAS degree in Opticianry, like in-state residents must do to qualify to sit for the
Exam.
For more information (including non-resident requirements): Requirements for Licensure as a NC Dispensing Optician
What exams are required in North Carolina to become a licensed optician?
Passing of the National Opticianry Competency Examination and the practical examination offered by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) are required.
Passing of the Contact Lens Registry Examination and the practical examination offered by the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) are required.
How can you contact the North Carolina state board?
North Carolina State Board of Opticians
PO Box 6753
Raleigh, NC 27628
919-420-1390