Contacts
Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians
The Details
What you need
General Instructions
Please review instructions below prior to starting and submitting your Dispensing Optician license application.
1. Review the Board’s Regulations
Prior to completing your application, please review the Board’s regulations, set forth in 235 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR). You may purchase an official copy of 235 CMR in person at the State Bookstore located at the Massachusetts State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, or you may order a copy online through the Secretary of State. The Board also maintains an unofficial, courtesy copy of the regulations accessible through the Statutes and Regulations section of its website.
2. Required Examinations
- All applicants must have passed the National Competency Examinations administered by the American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE). You will be required to upload a copy of your ABO and NCLE scores or certificate during the online application process. To schedule an appointment to take the examination(s), register through ABO-NCLE: Basic Exams (abo-ncle.org)
- All applicants must take and pass the Massachusetts Practical examination. Please contact the vendor directly to schedule the exam. Please note board approval is no longer required to take the exam.
- ABO practical exam. Please use the following link to access registration information: Massachusetts Practical Exams (abo-ncle.org)
3. Submission of Supporting Documentation and Required Forms
The following documents are required for licensure and must be uploaded in the online application:
- A 2”x 2” passport style photo.
- A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement Form.
- ABO Basic, NCLE Basic & Practical Exam Scores or Certificates.
- A copy of the signed Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship OR an official transcript from a COA approved school of Opticianry (the official transcript must be sent from the school to the Board directly via mail or email)
- A completed verification of hours form(s) from each optician(s) or optometrist(s) who supervised your apprenticeship detailing both work experience and related classroom instruction in all of the subject matter areas outlined in 235 CMR 4.04. During your apprenticeship you must complete a minimum of four thousand and two hundred (4,200) hours in no less than three years.
- If applying for licensure by endorsement, official verification(s) of licensure must be sent directly to the board from that state or jurisdiction by email or mail.
Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians
Bureau of Health Professions Licensure
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118
4. Non-Refundable Application Fee
All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $59.00, or $95.00 for licensure by endorsement. Please note that a convenience fee will be assessed for credit card payments.
5. Application Review
Applications are reviewed by board staff for accuracy and eligibility determination. Board staff will contact the applicant if there are any deficiencies. Completed applications are submitted for Board review at regularly scheduled meetings. Board staff will provide applicants log-in information to attend the meeting. Please note that apprentice opticians should, if possible, provide notice to their supervising mentor to attend the meeting. Applicants approved for licensure will receive their license cards and certificates via electronic mail.
Please direct any questions regarding the application process to the Board’s office. Contact dispensing.opticians@mass.gov.
How to apply
1. Go to the Health Professions Licensing Portal and create an account, or log into your existing account. If this is your first time using this new portal, please visit Health Professions Licensing System User Guide.
2. Follow system prompts. A user manual is available for here if needed.