Does Massachusetts License Opticians? (2026)

Last verified Oct 8, 2026 against the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians (opens in a new tab). Sources: Board page + state law (2 sources); contact lenses: board page only.

Yes. Massachusetts licenses opticians through the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians. We checked the board’s official website on Oct 8, 2026; confirm current rules with the board before applying. ABO and NCLE are national certifications; they are not a state license by themselves.

See Massachusetts’s official board page (opens in a new tab)

We link to each state board’s own page. Last checked Oct 8, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the board.

Massachusetts at a glance

Massachusetts optician licensing at a glance (board page, checked Oct 8, 2026)
Licensed?	Yes
License types	Dispensing optician license (eyeglasses and contact lenses)
What the board’s page says about exams	Board protects the public “by testing candidates and licensing those who are qualified”; specific exams not stated on the board’s page
Board	Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians (opens in a new tab)
Verified	Oct 8, 2026 · Board page + state law (2 sources); contact lenses: board page only

Details not yet verified

We’ve confirmed on the board’s official website that Massachusetts licenses opticians, but we haven’t yet verified which exams, training routes, or renewal rules apply. Check the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians (opens in a new tab) directly.

What state law says

M.G.L. c. 112 §73C (Dispensing optician; definition) (opens in a new tab): Defines a dispensing optician as a person who prepares and dispenses lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses and appliances on written prescription.
M.G.L. c. 112 §73D (Licensing of dispensing opticians) (opens in a new tab): No person may practice as a dispensing optician (lenses, spectacles, and eyeglasses on prescription) without a board license. The statute covers eyeglasses; contact lenses rest on the board page only.

Official sources

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-of-dispensing-opticians (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 8, 2026)
M.G.L. c. 112 §73C (Dispensing optician; definition) (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 8, 2026)
M.G.L. c. 112 §73D (Licensing of dispensing opticians) (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 8, 2026)

optical.education is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians or ABO-NCLE. This page is not legal advice; the board’s rules control. Disclaimer. Spotted an error? Report a correction.