Opticianry - Associate in Applied Science
Health
OPTI
This program is currently pending revisions and will be updated upon RI Council on Postsecondary Education approval.
The responsibilities of dispensing opticians include the fitting and fabrication of optical frames and lenses, helping patients decide on the correct frames for their prescription, conferring with doctors on the best or needed types of lens products for a patient, and daily management of an optical practice. Opticians can work as independent practitioners, for an ophthalmologist, optometrist or for any type of business where the dispensing of eyewear is needed. Opticians also can branch into sales of frames, lenses, machinery or management.
The CCRI Opticianry program, one of only four programs located in New England, integrates classroom and laboratory preparation with clinical practice for students to learn and practice the skills and behaviors required to be an optician. Core courses include lecture, laboratory and clinical education experiences in various ophthalmic settings where students utilize skills in the clinic that were learned in the classroom while being mentored by a preceptor who is a licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician.
General education courses for the Opticianry program can be taken at any campus. Major courses in the Opticianry program are primarily offered in a distance learning format. Each course has online modules which students are required to complete independently within a specific time frame. Some onsite participation is required for course lectures and hands-on training sessions which are typically held on Saturdays or evenings for approximately three hours at a time. Clinical experiences are scheduled at optical facilities and typically run during daytime hours Monday through Saturday. The specific clinical experience schedule depends on the schedule of the clinical site and the clinical instructor to which each student is assigned.
Successful completion of the CCRI Opticianry program allows students to apply for licensure in Rhode Island and nationally and take the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE) administered by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) as well as complete a regional practical examination.
Note: Many courses require prerequisites, corequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for details.
General Policies
See important general policies in the beginning of this section on the performance-based Health Sciences application process, academic progress, advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.
Minimum Requirements to Apply to the Opticianry Program
- CCRI application – Complete and submit a CCRI Application for Enrollment. General Studies should be the first choice; OPTI should be the second choice.
- High school transcript – Send an official copy of the applicant’s high school or GED® transcript, including date of graduation. If the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, the high school transcript may be waived; a college transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
- Composition I for Speakers of English as a Second Language (ENGL 1300) will not substitute for Composition I (ENGL 1010).
- Placement testing – Complete a standardized test (ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION) issued by CCRI’s Department of Advising and Counseling.
- Reading comprehension test must show competency of 250 or above or students must complete Critical Reading for College Success (ENGL 0890) with a grade of B‐ or better
- English (writing) test must show readiness to take Composition I (ENGL 1010) or students must complete College Writing (ENGL 1005) with a grade of C or better. Composition I for Speakers of English as a Second Language (ENGL 1300) will not substitute for Composition I (ENGL 1010).
- Prerequisites – Complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better: – Applied Technical Mathematics I (MATH 1179) or College Algebra (MATH 1200) May substitute Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175), Statistical Analysis I (MATH 1240), Quantitative Business Analysis I (MATH 2077), Quantitative Business Analysis II (MATH 2138), Pre-Calculus Mathematics (MATH 2111), Calculus I (MATH 2141), Calculus II (MATH 2142), Calculus III (MATH 2243). (Highest grade earned in any of these courses will be calculated in the point system.)
- GPA – Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for all college courses taken.
- Health Sciences application – Complete and submit performance-based Health Sciences application including a preadmission degree evaluation during the open enrollment period. The application instructions can be found at www.ccri.edu/oes/admissions/index.html.
- Important: All the above requirements must be completed satisfactorily before submission of performance-based Health Sciences application and do not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must resubmit a performance-based Health Sciences application for the program and meet the current admission requirements for the application period in which they reapply. Once accepted into the Opticianry program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Rehabilitative Health Department.
- Background check – Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from Enrollment Services. Final acceptance to the program is dependent on the results of the background check.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Preadmission General Education Requirements | ||
| This course must be taken prior to program admission: | ||
| MATH 1179 | Applied Technical Mathematics I | 3 |
| or MATH 1200 | College Algebra | |
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| BIOL 1070 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| MATH 1181 | Applied Technical Mathematics II | 3 |
| or MATH 2110 | College Trigonometry | |
| ENGL 1010 | Composition I | 3 |
| PSYC 2010 | General Psychology | 4 |
| COMM 1100 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| PSYC 1050 | Psychology in the Workplace | 3 |
| Subtotal | 19 | |
| Major Education Requirements | ||
| Students must be accepted into the program before taking any major requirements. | ||
| OPTI 1010 | Optical Theory I | 3 |
| OPTI 1020 | Ophthalmic Laboratory I | 3 |
| OPTI 1030 | Ophthalmic Dispensing I | 3 |
| OPTI 1040 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye | 3 |
| OPTI 1050 | Optical Theory II | 3 |
| OPTI 1060 | Ophthalmic Laboratory II | 3 |
| OPTI 1070 | Ophthalmic Dispensing II | 3 |
| OPTI 1080 | Ophthalmic Dispensing Clinical I | 3 |
| OPTI 2020 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Skills I | 3 |
| OPTI 2010 | Ophthalmic Dispensing Clinical II | 3 |
| OPTI 2060 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Skills II | 3 |
| OPTI 2040 | Introduction to Contact Lenses | 3 |
| OPTI 2050 | Ophthalmic Dispensing Clinical III | 3 |
| OPTI 2070 | Contact Lens Clinical I | 3 |
| OPTI 2030 | Optical Business Management | 3 |
| Subtotal | 45 | |
| Total Hours | 67 | |
Recommended Course Sequence
| Prerequisites | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1179 or MATH 1200 |
Applied Technical Mathematics I or College Algebra |
3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 1 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| OPTI 1010 | Optical Theory I | 3 |
| OPTI 1020 | Ophthalmic Laboratory I | 3 |
| OPTI 1030 | Ophthalmic Dispensing I | 3 |
| OPTI 1040 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye | 3 |
| MATH 1181 or MATH 2110 |
Applied Technical Mathematics II or College Trigonometry |
3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| OPTI 1050 | Optical Theory II | 3 |
| OPTI 1060 | Ophthalmic Laboratory II | 3 |
| OPTI 1070 | Ophthalmic Dispensing II | 3 |
| OPTI 1080 | Ophthalmic Dispensing Clinical I | 3 |
| BIOL 1070 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| OPTI 2020 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Skills I | 3 |
| PSYC 2010 | General Psychology | 4 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| OPTI 2010 | Ophthalmic Dispensing Clinical II | 3 |
| OPTI 2040 | Introduction to Contact Lenses | 3 |
| OPTI 2060 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Skills II | 3 |
| PSYC 1050 | Psychology in the Workplace | 3 |
| ENGL 1010 | Composition I | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| OPTI 2030 | Optical Business Management | 3 |
| OPTI 2050 | Ophthalmic Dispensing Clinical III | 3 |
| OPTI 2070 | Contact Lens Clinical I | 3 |
| COMM 1100 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 67 | |
Transfer
If you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree, please meet with an Academic Advisor who can help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university. For more information, you can also visit ritransfers.org with resources on course and program transfer to Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, or visit CCRI's Transfer Articulation page for information on articulation agreements with colleges and universities throughout New England.