Apprenticeship EDucation Options

Educational Options Available to Florida Apprentice Opticians

Each of the following methods can be applied towards the 6,240 hours of training to complete the apprenticeship program.

a) Hours earned while under the supervision of the sponsor(s) that is on the premises and all work produced is personally inspected and approved by a sponsor.

b) Time spent enrolled in opticianry courses at an accredited opticianry program may be substituted for apprenticeship time. Each credit hour earned shall count as 86.67 hours of apprenticeship time. One 3 credit class equals 260 hours of apprenticeship training. Online college programs are available.

c) Each approved CE hour counts as one hour of apprenticeship training.  Proof of attendance must be submitted to the Board.

d) The Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program satisfies Florida’s apprenticeship training requirement to become a Licensed Optician. Completion of the Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program is required for an apprentice whose sponsor is not Florida Board Certified for Contact Lenses.  Upon completion, apprentices will earn 160 work hours towards their apprenticeship training program.


MORE INFORMTION ON APPRENTICE PROGRAMS/REQUIREMENTS HERE:

Florida Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program

Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation Webinar


POF offers apprentices all the required courses needed for licensure.  

West Coast Better Vision  -St. Petersburg, Florida - May 3-5, 2024

Summer Showcase - Orlando, Florida - September 13-15, 2024

Vision Preview - Coral Springs, Florida - November 1-3, 2024

Upcoming events

    • January 01, 2024
    • December 31, 2024
    • Online
    Register

    Professional Opticians of Florida have partnered with WINK Productions to offer a new on-line program developed to review the fundamentals needed to help you prepare for the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Certification Examinations required for licensure in Florida.

    Each virtual interactive lesson consists of slides, audio, speaker notes and a quiz, allowing you to review and complete the training independently. Online testing can make sure the most important information is understood. And, interactive education is more fun and more likely to be retained.

    Your email confirmation will include information on accessing the review courses.


    POF is happy to offer an optician-friendly cancellation policy. If you need to cancel for any reason, POF will give you a 100% credit towards a future event, no explanation needed. Just send us a note confirming you cannot attend & we will credit your account after the event.


    • November 01, 2024
    • 10:00 AM
    • November 03, 2024
    • 2:00 PM
    • Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd, Coral Springs, FL 33076
    Register

    Your friends at Professional Opticians of Florida look forward to you joining us at Vision Preview 2024  at

    Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs

    Hotel & Convention Center! We put together the best educational speakers in Opticianry for this weekend's event.


    Schedule at a Glance


    Friday, November 1st 

    10:00 am Registration Desk Opens

    12:00 pm CE Courses Start 

    Saturday, November 2nd 

    7:30 am Registration Desk Opens

    8:00 am CE Courses Start 

    11:45 am Lunch & Trade Show

    Once education ends on Saturday, please join us for Happy Hour in the Trade Show followed by Opticians After Dark  

    Sunday, November 3rd

    7:30am Registration Desk Opens

    8:00am CE Courses Start 

    For the Vision Preview Education Schedule Click Here

    Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs

    Hotel & Convention Center


    • Group Rate-$145/night
    • Resort Fee Waived
    • $6 Overnight Parking
    • Free Daily Parking





    11775 Heron Bay Blvd.

    Coral Springs, FL 33076

     954-753-5598

    Book Hotel

    POF is happy to offer an optician-friendly cancellation policy. If you need to cancel for any reason, POF will give you a 100% credit towards a future event, no explanation needed. Just send us a note confirming you cannot attend & we will credit your account after the event.

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