It depends on your state and employer. Laws or rules in California, Florida, Hawaii and Washington, and board pages in Connecticut, Nevada, New York and Virginia, name ABO-NCLE exams for an optician license or registration. Certification itself is voluntary. The exam costs $275, plus CE and a renewal fee every three years. BLS publishes no pay data by certification status.
Last checked . Confirm fees and dates with the certifying body. optical.education is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ABO-NCLE or any state licensing board. Disclaimer.
The short answer
| Your situation | What official sources say | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| You’re in CA, CT, FL, HI, NV, NY, VA or WA | The state’s board names ABO-NCLE exam(s) for the license or registration (CA, FL, HI and WA also in statute or regulation; CT, NV, NY and VA on the board page only; checked October 9, 2026) | Check your state’s exact list: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Washington, or optician requirements by state |
| You’re in VA | Virginia’s board page lists ABO/NCLE as the administrator of its written and practical optician exams; apply to the Board before registering (board page only; checked October 9, 2026). Fee conflict: Virginia’s board page lists $225 (written) and $75 (practical); ABO-NCLE’s October–December 2026 pages list $275 (NOCE) and $125 (ABOP). Confirm on ABO-NCLE’s registration page before paying. | Virginia optician license and the DPOR page (opens in a new tab) |
| You’re in TN, KY, MA, AZ or VT | The state licenses opticians; the board pages we fetched don’t itemize the exams | Ask the board |
| Any other state | We haven’t verified it on a board page | Check optician requirements by state |
| Your employer requires or supports it | Employer-specific; see What employers say | Ask HR for the written policy |
| None of the above | No official source shows a pay premium for certification | Weigh the cost below against your goals |
Certification itself is voluntary: ABO-NCLE’s handbook calls its exams “voluntary competency certification examinations,” and the California Board of Optometry says ABO–NCLE certifications “are NOT the same as a Registration (license)” (handbook (opens in a new tab); California Board of Optometry (opens in a new tab); checked October 9, 2026). More on how certification differs from a license: ABO exam FAQ.
What ABO certification costs in 2026
ABO-NCLE alone sets its exam fees; its October–December 2026 registration page and October 2026 handbook list $275. Virginia’s board page still lists $225 (written) and $75 (practical), so confirm on ABO-NCLE’s registration page before paying.
| Item | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| NOCE (ABO Basic) registration | $275, non-refundable (Oct–Dec 2026 registration page (opens in a new tab); the October 2026 Basic Exam Handbook (opens in a new tab) now also says $275) (ABO-NCLE, the only source; checked October 9, 2026) |
| Each retake | Pay again (“you must PAY for each new exam attempt”); wait 14 days; three attempts, then a 90-day wait (same page (opens in a new tab); ABO-NCLE, the only source; checked October 9, 2026) |
| Change of window, date or time | $75 (October 2026 handbook (opens in a new tab); ABO-NCLE, the only source; checked October 9, 2026) |
| ABO Practical (ABOP), only if your state or employer requires it | $125 (Oct–Dec 2026 ABOP page (opens in a new tab); ABO-NCLE, the only source; checked October 9, 2026); you need a current ABO certification to take it. Virginia’s board page still lists a $75 practical exam fee; confirm on ABO-NCLE’s registration page before paying. |
| Renewal | Renewal every three years: approved continuing education (12 CECs for ABO, including 6 ABO-approved ophthalmic CECs) plus a renewal fee. ABO-NCLE also accepts proof of a current opticianry license instead of CECs from 18 states it lists as requiring continuing education: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington (ABO-NCLE renewal page (opens in a new tab), checked October 9, 2026; only ABO-NCLE publishes this list). |
We don’t publish a renewal-fee amount: ABO-NCLE’s pages show $125 (Basic Certification Renewal (opens in a new tab)) and $175 (Renewals and Reinstatements (opens in a new tab); Advanced Certification Renewal (opens in a new tab)), and none is dated, so confirm with ABO-NCLE. The 18-state list is ABO-NCLE’s alternate renewal method, not a count of licensing states. optical.education’s prep isn’t continuing education and awards no CECs.
Arithmetic, not a quote: in the first three-year cycle the minimum official ABO-NCLE fees are the $275 exam plus one renewal fee (ABO-NCLE’s own pages currently show different renewal amounts, so confirm with ABO-NCLE). Adding the ABO Practical adds $125. Each retake adds $275. Continuing-education costs aren’t included.
For the full fee and scoring detail, see the full ABO fee and scoring breakdown.
Want it all in one place? The full ABO course has 11 chapters with quizzes and explanations plus two full-length timed mock exams, $59 for 6 months of access. Get the ABO course — $59
Where ABO certification is part of a state license
These are the 8 states we’ve verified on a board page where the board names ABO-NCLE exams. The status column separates the states with a second (statute or regulation) source from the board-page-only states (two-source check, October 9, 2026).
| State | Board page | Second source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | optometry.ca.gov (opens in a new tab): “requires SLD and CLD applicants to pass the related ABO–NCLE Exams” | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2559.2 (SLD on proof of passing “the registry examination of the American Board of Opticianry”) | 2 sources for SLD/ABO; the CLD/NCLE part is board-page only |
| CT | DPH optician licensing requirements (opens in a new tab): NOCE and NCLE | CGS §20-146 doesn’t name ABO-NCLE | Board-page only |
| FL | floridasopticianry.gov (opens in a new tab): NOCE + CLRE + practicals, with NOCE “passed within 3 years of application or current ABO certification” | Fla. Stat. §484.007 (opens in a new tab) (“portions of the examination from the American Board of Opticianry”) | 2 sources for the ABO portions; the CLRE part is board-page only |
| HI | DCCA PDF (opens in a new tab): “requires the passage of both” NOCE and CLRE | HRS §458-6.5(c) (opens in a new tab) and HAR ch. 16-91 | 2 sources |
| NV | nvbdo.nv.gov (opens in a new tab): Basic, Advanced and Practical of both ABO and NCLE for the dual license | NAC 637.160 doesn’t name ABO/NCLE | Board-page only |
| NY | NYSED (opens in a new tab): NOCE “or an examination determined by the Department to be comparable” + ABOP | 8 NYCRR §67.3 doesn’t name ABO-NCLE | Board-page only |
| WA | DOH dispensing optician page (opens in a new tab): ABO and NCLE basic + practicals | WAC 246-824-035 (opens in a new tab) (“approves the examinations from the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE)”) | 2 sources |
| VA | DPOR (opens in a new tab): “Exam Administrator: ABO/NCLE” for written and practical optician and contact lens exams, applied for through the Board | 18VAC80-30-80/-90 say “approved by the board” without naming ABO-NCLE | Board-page only. Fee conflict: DPOR lists Written $225 / Practical $75; ABO-NCLE lists $275 (NOCE) / $125 (ABOP), October 2026 |
Pay and job outlook (BLS)
All pay, job and outlook figures in this section come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the only source for them: wages from the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (released May 15, 2026) and jobs and projections from the 2025–35 Employment Projections (released August 27, 2026). BLS does not report pay by certification status.
- Median pay: $47,260 (May 2025); the lowest 10% earned less than $35,610 and the highest 10% more than $76,750.
- Median pay by industry: general merchandise retailers $60,000; offices of physicians $48,590; health and personal care retailers $47,460; offices of optometrists $45,320. These are industry medians, not an effect of certification.
- Jobs: 74,300 (2025, an Employment Projections figure; OEWS May 2025 employment is 73,530, a different measure).
- Outlook: +4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,600 openings a year.
“Employers may require or prefer to hire candidates who have certification in eyeglass dispensing and contact lens dispensing.”
BLS doesn’t break pay out by certification status, and ABO-NCLE publishes no salary data (none found on October 8 or October 9, 2026). Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Opticians (opens in a new tab); OEWS May 2025 (opens in a new tab); Employment Projections 2025–35 (opens in a new tab) (checked October 9, 2026).
What employers say (employer statements, labeled)
- National Vision (employer statement (opens in a new tab), checked October 9, 2026) says it supports associates “throughout the licensing journey, including providing access to exam preparation services and paying ABO and NCLE exam fees.”
- Walmart (employer statement (opens in a new tab), June 29, 2026): licensed opticians at Walmart and Sam’s Club “earn an average starting wage of approximately $33.75 per hour, depending on market and licensing requirements.” This describes licensed opticians at one employer; it is not a pay rate for ABO certification, and Walmart doesn’t say certification changes pay. Its new Associate to Optician program funds an Optical Science associate degree for associates.
How many people hold ABO certification
ABO-NCLE says it has awarded more than 96,000 certifications since 1976, with more than 40,000 currently in force (ABO-NCLE About page (opens in a new tab), checked October 9, 2026).
ABO-NCLE’s Basic Exam page showed 29,222 people currently holding ABO Basic certification and 13,090 holding NCLE Basic certification (checked October 9, 2026; the counters update continuously, and only ABO-NCLE publishes these counts). (Basic Exam page (opens in a new tab))
Separately, BLS counts 74,300 optician jobs (2025). These are two different numbers: certified people may not work as opticians, and certifications aren’t jobs, so we don’t compute a share.
The exam itself: what you’re signing up for
125 questions in 2 hours; a 2024 pass rate of 64.0%; criterion-referenced scoring (ABO-NCLE, the only source; checked October 9, 2026; Basic Exam page (opens in a new tab) and handbook (opens in a new tab)). More: how hard the ABO exam is and the ABO study plan. The ABO practical exam (ABOP) is separate.
Should you add NCLE?
Florida, Hawaii, Washington and Connecticut list an NCLE exam alongside the ABO exam for licensure (Hawaii and Washington in statute or rule; Florida and Connecticut on the board page), as do Nevada for its full dual license and California for its Contact Lens Dispenser registration (board pages). Virginia’s board lists ABO/NCLE for its contact lens endorsement exams (board page).
Joint renewal rules differ (ABO-NCLE renewal page (opens in a new tab)). See ABO vs NCLE and NCLE certification.
13 original questions mapped to the 6 official content areas. A sample, not a prediction of your result.
Frequently asked questions
Do ABO-certified opticians earn more than opticians without certification?
No official source publishes pay by certification status (BLS, ABO-NCLE; checked October 9, 2026). Some employers support or require certification. For example, National Vision says it pays ABO and NCLE exam fees, so ask your employer for its written policy.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, Opticians (opens in a new tab) ; National Vision — Optician careers (employer statement) (opens in a new tab)
What does ABO certification cost over three years?
Arithmetic, not a quote: in the first three-year cycle the minimum official ABO-NCLE fees are the $275 exam plus one renewal fee (ABO-NCLE’s own pages currently show different renewal amounts, so confirm with ABO-NCLE). Adding the ABO Practical adds $125. Each retake adds $275. Continuing-education costs aren’t included. CE costs vary; we don’t provide CE.
Sources: ABO-NCLE — ABO Basic (NOCE) registration, Oct–Dec 2026 ($275; retake rules) (opens in a new tab) ; ABO-NCLE — Renewals and Reinstatements (12 CECs; alternate-method states; shows $175) (opens in a new tab)
Is ABO certification worth it if my state doesn’t license opticians?
Where a state doesn’t license opticians, no state requirement applies, but an employer can still require certification. BLS says: “Employers may require or prefer to hire candidates who have certification in eyeglass dispensing and contact lens dispensing.” BLS doesn’t report pay by certification status (checked October 9, 2026).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, Opticians (opens in a new tab)
How many people hold ABO certification?
ABO-NCLE’s Basic Exam page showed 29,222 people currently holding ABO Basic certification and 13,090 holding NCLE Basic certification (checked October 9, 2026; the counters update continuously, and only ABO-NCLE publishes these counts).
Source: ABO-NCLE — Basic Exam page (2024 pass rates; current-certified counters) (opens in a new tab)
Is it worth adding NCLE certification to ABO?
Florida, Hawaii, Washington and Connecticut list an NCLE exam alongside the ABO exam for licensure (Hawaii and Washington in statute or rule; Florida and Connecticut on the board page), as do Nevada for its full dual license and California for its Contact Lens Dispenser registration (board pages). Virginia’s board lists ABO/NCLE for its contact lens endorsement exams (board page). Joint renewal rules differ; see ABO-NCLE’s renewal page.
Sources: Florida Board of Opticianry — Optician (opens in a new tab) ; Haw. Rev. Stat. §458-6.5 (opens in a new tab) ; WAC 246-824-035 (opens in a new tab) ; Connecticut DPH — Optician licensure (opens in a new tab) ; Nevada State Board of Dispensing Opticians (opens in a new tab) ; California Board of Optometry — ABO–NCLE exams for SLD and CLD (opens in a new tab) ; Virginia DPOR — Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians (opens in a new tab) ; ABO-NCLE — Renewals and Reinstatements (12 CECs; alternate-method states; shows $175) (opens in a new tab)
See also: ABO vs NCLE
What is the job outlook for opticians?
BLS projects 4% growth for opticians from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,600 openings a year (2025–35 Employment Projections, released August 27, 2026; BLS is the only source for these figures).
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, Opticians (opens in a new tab) ; BLS — Employment Projections 2025–35 release, Aug 27, 2026 (USDL-26-1422) (opens in a new tab)
Does passing the ABO exam now help if I get licensed later?
Rules vary, so check the board. One verified example: Florida’s board accepts the NOCE “passed within 3 years of application or current ABO certification” (board page, checked October 9, 2026).
Source: Florida Board of Opticianry — Optician (opens in a new tab)
See also: Florida optician license
Official sources
- ABO-NCLE — ABO Basic (NOCE) registration, Oct–Dec 2026 ($275; retake rules) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — ABO Practical (ABOP) registration, Oct–Dec 2026 ($125) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — NCLE Practical registration, Oct–Dec 2026 ($125) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE Exam Handbooks page: Basic Exam Handbook, October 2026 ($275; $75 change fee) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — Basic Exam page (2024 pass rates; current-certified counters) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — About ABO-NCLE (certifications awarded and in force) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — Basic Certification Renewal (shows $125) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — Advanced Certification Renewal (shows $175) (opens in a new tab)
- ABO-NCLE — Renewals and Reinstatements (12 CECs; alternate-method states; shows $175) (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, Opticians (opens in a new tab)
- BLS — OEWS May 2025, Table 1 (opens in a new tab)
- BLS — OEWS release, May 15, 2026 (USDL-26-0725) (opens in a new tab)
- BLS — Employment Projections 2025–35 release, Aug 27, 2026 (USDL-26-1422) (opens in a new tab)
- California Board of Optometry — ABO–NCLE exams for SLD and CLD (opens in a new tab)
- Connecticut DPH — Optician licensure (opens in a new tab)
- Florida Board of Opticianry — Optician (opens in a new tab)
- Hawaii DCCA — Dispensing optician license requirements (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Nevada State Board of Dispensing Opticians (opens in a new tab)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — Ophthalmic dispensing (opens in a new tab)
- Washington DOH — Dispensing optician (opens in a new tab)
- Virginia DPOR — Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians (opens in a new tab)
- Fla. Stat. §484.007 (opens in a new tab)
- Haw. Rev. Stat. §458-6.5 (opens in a new tab)
- WAC 246-824-035 (opens in a new tab)
- National Vision — Optician careers (employer statement) (opens in a new tab)
- Walmart — “Bringing new career paths into focus,” June 29, 2026 (employer statement) (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed . Requirements, fees, and dates change — always confirm with the official source before you register or apply. ABO-NCLE and IJCAHPO are the only authorities for their own exam facts, so those facts rest on a single source.