Complete Story
10/04/2024
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 one thousand 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.
