N.C. State Board of Opticians Examination

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North Carolina State Opticians Board Exam

Administered in March and September every year

This board is a nine-part examination. The successful candidate must earn a 70 or better on each individual part within a period of three (3) years.

Parts of the board examination:

SECTIONS OF THE BOARDS links are to outlines of the material tested	TIME/ QUESTIONS	SUBSTITUTION	Durham Technical Community College Certificate course containing some of the material
Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye	1 hour/ 50 questions		OPH 121 Anatomy & Physiology of the Eye
Contact Lens Practical instrumentation and slide identification	1 hour for 10 instrumentation questions and 20 slides.		OPH 261-262 (degree only)
Contact Lens Written	1 hour/ 50 questions	NCLE if taken within 3 years of sitting for boards the current time.	OPH 260 Contact Lenses (apprentice certificate) or OPH 261-262 (degree only)
Laboratory Practical	1 hour/ 40 questions
Measurements of the Face	1 hour/ 50 questions		OPH 131 Dispensing I & OPH 102 Lab Concepts (apprentice certificate) or OPH 131 Dispensing I & OPH 111 Ophthalmic Laboratory I (degree only)
Ophthalmic Lenses	1 hour/ 50 questions	ABO if taken within 3 years of sitting for boards the current time.	OPH 131 Dispensing I & OPH 102 Lab Concepts (apprentice certificate) or OPH 131 Dispensing I & OPH 111 Ophthalmic Laboratory I (degree only)
Rx Interpretation	1 hour/ 50 questions	ABO if taken within 3 years of sitting for boards the current time.	OPH 102 Lab Concepts & OPH 141 Theory I (apprentice certificate) or OPH 141 Theory I & OPH 111 Laboratory I (degree only)
Surfacing and Finishing	1 hour/ 50 questions		OPH 102 Lab Concepts (apprentice certificate) or OPH 111 Ophthalmic Laboratory I & OPH 112 Ophthalmic Laboratory II (degree only)
Theory of Light	1 hour/ 50 questions		OPH 141 Theory I and OPH 142 Theory II (degree only)

To become a Licensed Optician in North Carolina:

As a North Carolina resident, to become eligible to sit for the N.C. Opticianry Boards, the candidate must:

Complete one of the following:

serve a 3.5 year apprenticeship in N.C., registered in a Board approved training facility; or
receive a two-year degree in Opticianry or Ophthalmic Dispensing at a COA accredited program.

As an out-of-state resident, to become eligible to sit for the N.C. Opticianry Boards, the candidate must:

apply to sit for the exam within 90 days of moving to N.C. from a non-licensed state, with 4 or more years of experience in a facility similar to an N.C. approved training facility.

Regardless of the state of residency, if the candidate did not receive a two-year degree from a COA accredited program, the candidate must also have completed one of the following:

a certificate program offered by any COA accredited program, such as the Basic Opticianry program at Durham Technical Community College; or
the NAO Career Progression Program. (If you follow the NAO link, click on 'Career Pathways'.)

Once the candidate has completed the 3.5 year apprenticeship or received a two-year degree in Opticianry or Ophthalmic Dispensing, the candidate must serve a minimum of a 6 month Internship in N.C. working in a Board approved training facility. The candidate may sit for the N.C. State Board of Opticianry examination either during or after the Internship period.

For more information about the N.C. Board of Opticians, for information about registering as an apprentice in North Carolina, and for information about applying to sit for the N.C. Opticianry Boards, please contact:

Sue Kornegay, Administrative Director

N.C. State Board of Opticians

Medical Society Building

P.O. Box 25336

Raleigh, N.C. 27611-5336

(919) 733-9321

Application to Durham Technical Community College's Opticianry Apprentice Certificate program does not constitute application/registration for apprenticeship with the N.C. Board of Opticians.

Durham Tech Opticianry A.A.S. Degree through distance learning

Durham Tech Basic Opticianry Certificate plan of study.

The National Federation of Opticianry Schools has an excellent list of Opticianry-related resources here.