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Continuing
Education

Stay current, earn credits, and advance your career as a licensed optician in Arizona through AADO’s certified education programs.

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12
CE Credits Required
3yr
CE Renewal Cycle
Yearly
License Renewal
AZ
State Approved
The Process

How to Earn CE Credits

Three simple steps to stay compliant and advance your professional development.

01

Register for an Event

Browse AADO’s upcoming seminars and workshops. Members receive priority registration and discounted rates on all CE events.

02

Attend & Participate

Complete the course requirements, attend sessions, and participate in hands-on workshops to qualify for CE credit hours.

03

Receive Your Certificate

AADO issues CE certificates upon completion. Access and download your certificates anytime from your member account.

Online Rules & Regs Exam
  • Minimum 4 hours eyeglass fitting & dispensing (ABO)
  • Minimum 3 hours contact lens fitting & dispensing (NCLE)
  • 1 hour state or national standards
  • Remaining hours can be ABO or NCLE.
1. Where can I find the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians Statutes?

Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians Statutes can be found on the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians website at do.az.gov or by visiting the Statutes section on this site.

2. Where can I find the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians Rules?

The Rules can be found on the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians website at do.az.gov or in the State Board Rules section on this site.

3. How can I contact the Arizona Board of Dispensing Opticians?

Visit the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians website at do.az.gov for current contact information.

4. How can I contact the United Opticians Association?

United Opticians Association, Inc. — 217 North Upper Street, Suite 201, Herndon, Virginia 20170. Phone: (703) 437-8780 or (800) 433-8997. Fax: (703) 437-0727. Website: oaa.org

5. How can I contact the American Board of Opticianry / National Contact Lens Examiners?

ABO-NCLE — 6506 Loisdale Rd., Suite 209, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. Phone: (703) 719-5800. Website: abo-ncle.org

6. What is a Dispensing Optician?

Per Arizona law (A.R.S. §32-1671.3), a dispensing optician is any person who dispenses lenses, contact lenses, frames, artificial eyes, or optical devices to the intended wearer on written prescription from a licensed physician or optometrist — interpreting, measuring, adapting, fitting or adjusting them for the correction of visual anomalies of the human eye.

7. What is the difference between a Dispensing Optician, an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist?

A Dispensing Optician makes and/or fits eyeglasses or contacts. An Optometrist is the doctor who performs the examination and writes the prescription. An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specializing in diseases of the eye.

8. What Continuing Education Credits are required?

For 12 hours of required continuing education, a minimum of 4 hours in eyeglass fitting and
dispensing (ABO), plus a minimum 3 hours of contact lens fitting and dispensing (NCLE), and
one hour of state or national opticianry standards are required. A minimum additional 4 hours
of either ABO or NCLE completes the legal requirement.

9. Who or What is ABO and NCLE?

ABO (American Board of Opticianry) certifies opticians who dispense and work with spectacles. NCLE (National Contact Lens Examiners) certifies those who fit and work with contact lenses. Both are national non-profit organizations, and successful completion of both exams is required for licensure in Arizona.

10. How does someone take the ABO and NCLE exams?

Contact ABO-NCLE at abo-ncle.org or call (703) 719-5800 for exam registration and information.

11. How is the Arizona Practical Examination offered?

The state practical examination is offered through ABO-NCLE.org. Check their website for current dates and times.

12. Which are the state approved schools?
  • Optical Training Institute — Opticianry Development Program: opticaltraining.com
  • NAO — Ophthalmic Career Progression Program: nao.org

Learning Objective – Upon completion of this course the participant should have a good understanding of the Arizona State Rules and Regulations that regulate his or her Arizona Dispensing Optician’s license.

Continuing Education Credit – This course is approved for one (1) hour of continuing education credit through the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians. It satisfies the requirement of the one (1) hour continuing education requirement of Rules and Regulations for Arizona Opticians’ license renewal.

Passing Score – Passing score is 75%. The participant will be notified of his of her score via email within 72 hours of the submission of the online answer sheet. Upon successful completions of the exam (75% or higher), a continuing education certificate will be emailed to you.

Failing Score – If you do not pass the exam, you will be required to retake the exam. Members are eligible to retake the exam unlimited times at no additional cost. Non members will be required to pay $25 for each additional attempt.

AADO members – May take this course for FREE. You will need to log in to your AADO account to access the test.

Non-members – The fee is $25.00. If you would like to become an AADO member, you may complete our online membership form or download a membership application to mail or fax. (Please be sure to include your e-mail address on your application and your PIN will be e-mailed to you within two business days after receipt of your application.)

IMPORTANT: Click on the link and read (we highly recommend printing) the Arizona Dispensing Opticians Statutes and the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians Rules. Answer the following questions and submit your answers using the online link. Please, provide us your feedback by filling out the evaluation form following the exam questions.

Certificates – CEC certificates are emailed within 72 hours. We do not send via snail mail so PLEASE, check your email.

NOTE: If you exit the exam after you begin, your answers will be lost and you will need to start again.

Online Rules & Regs Exam

On The Calendar

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Member Benefit

Ready to Earn Your CE Credits?

AADO members get priority access to all CE seminars, discounted registration rates, and exclusive access to CE materials in the member resource library.