Registered earn-and-learn optician apprenticeship: online coursework, on-the-job training & prep for national American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) optician exams
2563 Rudder Avenue, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
Enrolls for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters
Experience required
Program Philosophy
CSSO, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2015, builds educational resources for opticians and optometric assistants to grow the profession and ease industry staff shortages. Its National Optician Apprenticeship pairs on-the-job experience with flexible online instruction so people already working in optical, or ready to start, can build dispensing skills, pass national exams and move up. CSSO aims to widen access to the field, including for underrepresented groups and people with disabilities.
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Adults 18+ with a high school diploma working in, or seeking, optical retail jobs
Apprentices work on the job at an optical employer under supervision while completing 100% online, self-paced training modules (accessible by computer, tablet or phone). A required Zoom meeting is held monthly, and apprenticeship hours are logged throughout. Coursework runs on Fall, Spring and Summer semesters; weekly work hours are set by the employer and vary.
Earn-and-learn optician training, national American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) exam prep & a path to optician licensure
Cost & Outcomes
Because apprentices must be employed in the optical industry, they earn an employer-paid wage while training.
Who This Program is Built For
This program was specifically designed with these communities in mind. If you see yourself, you belong here.
What Sets This Program Apart
Earn and learn: apprentices work in the optical industry while completing training, with Program Directors helping candidates find a job
Registered Apprenticeship: CSSO holds U.S. Department of Labor National Guidelines Standards for the Optician Dispensing occupation
On-the-job training prepares apprentices receive a wage for their work, building skills while earning pay
Practical skills are under the guidance of experienced opticians that includes measuring pupils, adjusting frames and assisting customers
100% online coursework: self-paced modules on computer, tablet or phone, plus monthly live Zoom meetings
National exam focus: curriculum prepares apprentices for the ABO (glasses) and NCLE (contact lens) national exams
Industry networking: connections with optical industry leadership and continuing education
Day in the Life
- On-the-job training at an optical employer, dispensing eyewear under supervision
- Self-paced online video lessons in eye anatomy, dispensing theory and optics
- Module quizzes and exam reviews to prepare for national exams
- Logging apprenticeship hours
- Monthly live Zoom meeting with instructors and cohort
- Virtual and in-person labs on lensometers, measurements and frame fitting
Led by Executive Officer Ruby Garcia, a practicing optician; lessons taught by doctors of optometry and other licensed optical professionals
Soft and technical skills you'll gain by program completion.
American Board of Opticianry (ABO) National Opticianry Competency Exam for eyeglasses; National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) exam for contact lenses; state licensure or registration requirements vary
Highs & Lows
Balancing a full-time optical job with self-paced online study, and mastering the math-heavy optics (prism, oblique axis, vertical imbalance) needed to pass the ABO and NCLE national exams.
Earning a paycheck while training, studying on their own schedule from any device, and connecting with optical industry leaders.
Employment Support
Program Directors help applicants not yet in the optical industry apply for optical jobs
Networking with optical industry leadership
National ABO and NCLE exam review courses
Free monthly CSSO workshop on applying for California Spectacle Lens Dispenser (SLD) and Contact Lens Dispenser (CLD) licenses
Continuing education courses for career growth
How It Works
Submit the Apply Today form on https://www.cssoo.co/national-optician-apprenticeship-program/
Confirm eligibility (18+, high school diploma, background check)
Secure employment in the optical industry, with help from Program Directors if needed
Receive enrollment approval from the program
Begin online modules, attend monthly Zoom meetings and log apprenticeship hours
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact us.Applicants must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma, pass a background check, and be employed in the optical industry or eligible to apply for a job with help from Program Directors.
Coursework is 100% online with required monthly Zoom meetings; apprentices earn apprenticeship hours on the job.
The program is offered during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.