Program Details
Career Studies Certificate in Opticians Apprentice
Career Studies CertificateJ Sargeant Reynolds Community College
This program is included in: G3
Successful completion of the Opticians Apprentice Career Studies Certificate will prepare students for employment in the eye care field throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. This program is offered solely to provide the required related instruction component of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) Opticians Apprentice program.
Outcomes
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Students who successfully complete this career studies certificate and complete the 4,000 hours of on-the-job training as a Virginia DOLI registered apprentice will be eligible to sit for the licensure examination to become an optician in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Program Overview & Guidance

Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Considerations for Selecting Degree | Courses are available 100% online, in person or a combination. |
Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes In addition to the general college curricular admission requirements, an interview with the Opticianry program head is required before beginning the curriculum. Students must provide proof that they are registered as an Apprentice Optician with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. This career studies certificate may be completed in one to two years. Apprentice students are required to complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year, for a total of 4,000 hours, along with the required courses in this career studies certificate. Students will be required to repeat any OPT course in which a grade lower than “71” is received. |
Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Cohorts begin during the fall semester. Students who receive a final grade lower than “71” in any of the Opticianry courses must repeat the course and gain permission from the program head to continue in the program.
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Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | Student must also register with the Department of Labor and Industry to track hands-on hours. |
Doing More With Your Degree | Ability to sit for state licensure and national certification for the American Board of Opticianry |
Program Successes & Highlights | We have partnerships with industry leaders that help with job placement, opportunities for scholarships. |
Program Credit Requirements

Please note that some courses may count towards more than one requirement such as meeting a general education requirement and a major specific requirement. The course will be listed under the first matching requirement. Please contact the institution with questions.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Not Required |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
Credit for Prior Learning | Prior learning is considered |
Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information

College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
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Is This College Right For Me? | https://issuu.com/reynoldscommunitycollege/docs/digital_hs_recruitment_packet?fr=sZmMwOTQ3OTA5NA |
Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Not Required |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
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Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
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29-2081.00 | Opticians, Dispensing | Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames. Includes contact lens opticians. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
Cost To Complete

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