09/27/2024

Changes to the Ohio Apprentice Optician Program

In 2023, the time required to serve as an optical apprentice in Ohio was reduced from two years to one thousand hours. The change has been viewed in both a favorable perspective as well as seen as a disservice to our industry.

Anxious employers and quick study apprentices have appreciated a faster track to sitting for the American Board of Opticianry exam resulting in more expediate licensure. Employers appreciate the quicker timeline for their apprentices to become eligible for licensure for the purpose of complying with the state law. Apprentices look forward to the wage increase that usually follows after being awarded the state license.

Many question if 1,000 hours is an adequate amount of time to learn the trade. In that short time period, an apprentice could begin working unsupervised and possibly start training new apprentices. If the appropriate training has not been communicated to the student, they may venture into this healthcare profession with misinformation, possibly to never be corrected. Fortunately, most opticians who are dedicated to the trade know that opticianry is a field where we are continuously learning.

The good news is an apprentice is not required to pass the exam to be allowed to continue to work under a supervisor. The student can continue to work and learn until they feel they are prepared to sit for the exam.

Apprentices have the opportunity to learn in more ways than being supervised by a licensed optician. There is an abundant amount of educational resources available to supplement one’s education. The Opticians Association of Ohio continues to hold the apprentice workshop several times a year. There, the apprentice can experience both hands on application and lecture style learning. Study guides and workbooks are available for purchase on the OAO website along with practice tests that are written in the same format as the official test itself. The OAO also holds an ABO-NCLE review course twice a year for those who are about to sit for the exam.

The ABO website is another education resource when searching for information about how to pass the test. Study materials along with articles and videos regarding all the certifications are easily accessed.

Is it possible for an apprentice within a one-thousand-hour timeframe to glean enough knowledge and build enough practical skills to pass the ABO exam? Possibly! As opticians, we know that opticianry is a trade where we never stop learning. However, with the amount of information available, potentially a motivated apprentice could become skilled and competent to pass the exam within the shortened timeframe.