Optician and ophthalmic tech schools in New Jersey
3 accredited programs in New Jersey, from the public COA and ICA accreditor directories.
New Jersey at a glance
- Opticianry programs: 3 (Camden County College, Essex County College, Raritan Valley Community College)
- Ophthalmic assistant/technician programs: none listed by the ICA directory for New Jersey
- Cities: Blackwood, Newark, Somerville
- Programs listing an associate degree: 3 of 3.
Licensing in New Jersey
We haven’t verified New Jersey’s optician rules yet. Some states license opticians and some don’t; see the state licensing hub and do you need a license to be an optician?, then check with the state board.
Accredited programs in New Jersey
| School | City | Program type | Credential | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Camden County College (opens in a new tab)
Ophthalmic Science |
Blackwood | Optician | Associate degree | COA (opens in a new tab) |
|
Essex County College (opens in a new tab)
Vision Care Technology |
Newark | Optician | AAS | COA (opens in a new tab) |
|
Raritan Valley Community College (opens in a new tab)
Ophthalmic Science |
Somerville | Optician | Associate degree | COA (opens in a new tab) |
Which program fits your goal?
Want to fit and dispense glasses or contacts? Opticianry programs teach optics, lens fabrication, frame fitting, and contact lens fitting. Graduates commonly sit for the national ABO (eyeglasses) and NCLE (contact lenses) exams, which many licensed states use. Start with ABO vs NCLE and how to become an optician.
Not ready for school? Many opticians and ophthalmic assistants start by training on the job. See optician apprenticeships, and use our free practice tests to check where you stand.
Questions to ask a program
- Is it currently accredited (COA for opticianry, ICA for ophthalmic assisting), and when is the next review?
- What credential do you earn: certificate, associate degree, or both?
- Does it include clinical or retail externship hours, and does that count toward New Jersey’s requirements?
- How many graduates sat the national exams last year? Ask for their published numbers rather than marketing claims.
- Total cost, schedule (day, evening, online), and next start date.
Programs in other states
California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Last checked Oct 2026. Built from two public accreditor directories: the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation, Directory of Accredited Programs (opticianry and ophthalmic laboratory programs) and the International Council of Accreditation (formerly CoA-OMP), Find a Program (ophthalmic assistant and technician programs). Optometry (OD) schools are not listed. Programs marked “in the process of accreditation” or “inactive” on those lists are left out. Start dates, costs, and enrollment change; confirm details with each school.
School missing or out of date? Tell us via /feedback.
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