Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Optician (Dispensing) Licensing Requirements by State

Optician (Dispensing) licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Optician (Dispensing) across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Optician (Dispensing): 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Fits and adjusts eyeglasses and contact lenses. Licensed in ~22 states.

Optician (Dispensing): 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Optician (Dispensing) drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Optician (Dispensing) states

51

Below median

Board gates for Optician (Dispensing): exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Optician (Dispensing)'s board count

Coverage band

Optician (Dispensing) boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mobile Home Installer · Paramedic
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Lab Technician · Painter (Contractor)
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacy Technician
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Assistant · Optometrist
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Speech-Language Pathologist · Veterinarian
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician

What to do with this

Optician (Dispensing) is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Optician (Dispensing)'s requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #57 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Athletic Trainer →Reciprocity guide →Strictest states →Compare states →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Optician (Dispensing) requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.