PURPOSE: The Opticianry program is designed to prepare individuals in the art and science of all phases of the making and fitting of eyeglasses and contact lenses: surfacing, finishing, eyeglass dispensing, contact lens fitting, and dispensing.
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Graduation from the program may lead to one of the following occupational goals: Optician, Private Practitioner, Ophthalmic Dispenser, Optical Laboratory Manager, Contact Lens Technician, Branch Manager, Optical Laboratory Technician, Ophthalmic Sales Representative, and Ophthalmic Research Technician.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission
PROGRAM NOTES: Students admitted into this program will be approved for entry into major/clinical courses (Optical Theory I or higher) when they have satisfied the following requirements:
- Applicants must meet with the program head to review their records and to discuss the requirements of the program and a career in Opticianry.
- It is also recommended, but not required, that students have completed one unit each of high school algebra, biology, and physics.
Students acquire direct patient-related practical skills by taking eyeglass and contact lens clinical coursework at clinical sites assisting customers. All students must complete an Assumption of Risk agreement prior to taking any clinical courses. Courses in the program are offered on campus as well as via distance learning with in-person or proctor required. Students in the distance program must attend mandatory clinical classes offered at an approved distance learning site. Exams must be taken at an approved testing center as determined by the program head.
Graduation from this program prepares one for the licensing examination and contact lens fitting endorsement given by the Virginia State Board of Opticians. This accredited program is also approved by other state licensing boards.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES FOR OPTICIANRY AAS DEGREE:
Students who complete the Opticianry AAS degree will be expected to
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical optical knowledge at a level of a licensed optician in the state of Virginia and other states requiring accreditation with similar requirements.
- Demonstrate clinical optical skills at a level of a licensed optician in the state of Virginia and other states requiring accreditation with similar requirements.
- Demonstrate clinical competency in basic contact lens fitting.
- Demonstrate entry-level business skills for the opticianry profession.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the following expenses may be required for the Opticianry program:
- Approximate textbook costs for program | $700-800
- Eye examination (by the 4th semester) | $35-85
- Personal pair of safety glasses | $15-50 (Non-Rx safety eye wear is available for on-campus labs.)
- White laboratory coat | $20-45
- Name badge | $8-10
- USB headset (for all online lecture courses) | $25-75
- Mailing costs (for distance clinical courses only) | $ varies by location*
- Testing center fees (for distance clinical courses only) | $varies by location
- Optical tools or equipment (for distance clinical courses only) | $ varies by location**
* Distance learning students are required to take proctored exams and complete projects to be sent back to the college throughout the curriculum. Students must have an approved proctor, and, if there is a fee, students are required to pay for the services they decide to use.
**Distance learning students in a clinical setting must have access to specific optical tools and equipment in order to successfully complete coursework. Dependent upon the clinical site, students using off-campus locations may need to purchase tools or equipment if they do not have access to them at their approved location.
NOTE: The above costs are approximate, clinical site dependent, and subject to change.
COMPUTER COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT: Students in this program will meet the college’s computer competency requirement by successfully completing ITE 115 or CSC 155 . Students can also meet this requirement by passing the college’s computer competency exam, administered in the testing centers on each campus, in which case they will receive college credit for ITE 115 or CSC 155 . Those students not passing the computer competency exam may retake the exam only once. This requirement must be satisfied by the end of the second semester to continue in the program.
PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM:
- Students who receive a final grade lower than “71” in any of the Opticianry courses must repeat the course and gain permission from the program head to continue in the program.
- The college offers this program in affiliation with the health care agencies and practitioners in the communities the college serves. The college relies on its community affiliates to provide clinical education opportunities for its students, expert clinical preceptors, and course instructors for many courses. The often rapid changes in health care law, standards of practice, technology, and content of credentialing examinations increasingly necessitate sudden changes in the program’s course content, policies, procedures, and course scheduling. As a result, the college cannot guarantee every student continuous and uninterrupted clinical and course instruction as outlined in the printed catalog curriculum for this program. Circumstances beyond the control of the college may necessitate the postponement of course offerings or changes in the sequencing and/or location of scheduled courses or clinical assignments. Additionally, the college may have to change the instructor for courses after instruction has started.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE DATA FOR OPTICIANRY GRADUATES: The following table presents the pass rates on the first attempt for certification/licensure exams and employment rates for Reynolds opticianry graduates for 2015-2019
| |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
| American Board of Opticianry(ABO) |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
| National Contact Lens Examiners(NCLE) |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
| Virginia State Board for Opticians |
88% |
92% |
94% |
100% |
100% |
| Employment |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
ACCREDITATION: The Opticianry program is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation, PO Box 592, Canton, NY13617; director@coaccreditation.com; 703-468-0566 voice.
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