Last verified against the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians (Department of Health) (opens in a new tab). Sources: Board page + state rule (2 sources).
Yes. Tennessee licenses opticians through the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians (Department of Health). 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 Tennessee’s official board page (opens in a new tab)
Tennessee at a glance
| Licensed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| License types | Dispensing optician license; apprenticeship training registration |
| What the board’s page says about exams | ABO (NOCE) and NCLE certification plus a practical exam (board page); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0480-01-.08 also requires the Tennessee Dispensing Optician Examination and a jurisprudence exam |
| Board | Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians (Department of Health) (opens in a new tab) |
| Verified | Oct 8, 2026 · Board page + state rule (2 sources) |
Details not yet verified
We’ve verified Tennessee’s exam requirements (above) on the board page and Rule 0480-01-.08, but we haven’t yet verified training routes or renewal rules. Check the Tennessee Board of Dispensing Opticians (Department of Health) (opens in a new tab) directly.
What state law says
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0480-01-.08 (Examinations), Sept. 2024 revision (PDF) (opens in a new tab): Licensure requires the National Opticianry Competency Examination, the National Contact Lens Registry Examination, the Tennessee Dispensing Optician Examination, and the Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination.
Official sources
- https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/dop.html (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 8, 2026)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0480-01-.08 (Examinations), Sept. 2024 revision (PDF) (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 8, 2026)