Apprenticeship EDucation Options

Educational Options Available to Florida Apprentice Opticians

Each of the following methods can be applied towards the 6,240 hours of training to complete the apprenticeship program.

a) Hours earned while under the supervision of the sponsor(s) that is on the premises and all work produced is personally inspected and approved by a sponsor.

b) Time spent enrolled in opticianry courses at an accredited opticianry program may be substituted for apprenticeship time. Each credit hour earned shall count as 86.67 hours of apprenticeship time. One 3 credit class equals 260 hours of apprenticeship training. Online college programs are available.

c) Each approved CE hour counts as one hour of apprenticeship training.  Proof of attendance must be submitted to the Board.

d) The Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program satisfies Florida’s apprenticeship training requirement to become a Licensed Optician. Completion of the Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program is required for an apprentice whose sponsor is not Florida Board Certified for Contact Lenses.  Upon completion, apprentices will earn 160 work hours towards their apprenticeship training program.


MORE INFORMTION ON APPRENTICE PROGRAMS/REQUIREMENTS HERE:

Florida Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program

Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation Webinar


POF offers apprentices all the required courses needed for licensure.  The Saturday Apprentice Special is available during all of POF's state-wide conferences for one low price. 


Summer Showcase - Daytona Beach, Florida - August 7, 2021

West Coast Better Vision - Safety Harbor, Florida - September 11, 2021

Vision Preview - Fort Lauderdale, Florida - December 4, 2021






Upcoming events

    • January 01, 2023
    • December 31, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Professional Opticians of Florida have partnered with WINK Productions to offer a new on-line program developed to review the fundamentals needed to help you prepare for the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Certification Examinations required for licensure in Florida.

    Each virtual interactive lesson consists of slides, audio, speaker notes and a quiz, allowing you to review and complete the training independently. Online testing can make sure the most important information is understood. And, interactive education is more fun and more likely to be retained.

    Your email confirmation will include information on accessing the review courses.


    POF is happy to offer an optician-friendly cancellation policy. If you need to cancel for any reason, POF will give you a 100% credit towards a future event, no explanation needed. Just send us a note confirming you cannot attend & we will credit your account after the event.


    • November 03, 2023
    • 10:00 AM
    • November 05, 2023
    • 2:00 PM
    • Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd, Coral Springs, FL 33076
    Register

    Your friends at Professional Opticians of Florida look forward to you joining us at Vision Preview 2023  at ! We put together the best educational speakers in Opticianry for this weekend's event.


    Schedule at a Glance


    Friday, November 3rd 

    10:00 am Registration Desk Opens

    12:00 pm CE Courses Start 

    Saturday, November 4th 

    7:30 am Registration Desk Opens

    8:00 am CE Courses Start 

    11:45 am Lunch & Trade Show

    Once education ends on Saturday, please join us for Happy Hour in the Trade Show followed by Opticians After Dark  

    Sunday, November 5th

    7:30am Registration Desk Opens

    8:00am CE Courses Start 

    For the Vision Preview Education Schedule Click Here

    Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs

    Hotel & Convention Center


    • Group Rate-$149/night
    • Resort Fee Waived
    • $6 Overnight Parking
    • Free Daily Parking




    11775 Heron Bay Blvd.

    Coral Springs, FL 33076

     954-753-5598

    Book Hotel


    POF is happy to offer an optician-friendly cancellation policy. If you need to cancel for any reason, POF will give you a 100% credit towards a future event, no explanation needed. Just send us a note confirming you cannot attend & we will credit your account after the event.

    • November 03, 2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • November 05, 2023
    • 5:00 PM
    • Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd, Coral Springs, FL 33076
    • 12
    Register

    Florida Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program

    POF's  32 hours of training in Contact Lenses meets and exceeds the Apprenticeship Requirements and Training Program for an Apprentice with a sponsor that is not Board Certified. (FL Admin Rule 64B12-16.003)

    Professional Opticians of Florida (POF)  has formulated their experience and resources to offer a contact lens program designed specifically for Apprentice Opticians in Florida. This new 32-hour course will be offered in two parts: 13 hours of on-line training, plus 19 hours of live and hands-on clinical training offered at this conference.

    Part 1: Available Online in advance of workshop

    The first part of the program is delivered on-line and covers contact Lens theory in carefully designed modules that can be completed at your own pace and in advance of the live hands-on clinical Part 2.

    *Online Education Must Be Completed by October 27, 2023*

    Part 2: Clinical Workshop in Coral Springs at POF’s  Vision Preview 2023 Event

    This part of the program is offered as a clinical workshop model, which is delivered over a three-day weekend. You will spend nineteen (19) hours with highly skilled contact lens instructors learning the key concepts of Contact Lens fitting firsthand. 


    Be sure to register for the Certificate program now and complete the 13 hours of training online in Part 1 before live clinicals  to be eligible to take the clinical workshops listed above.

    Discounted POF Members Registration Total: $425 (including a complimentary one-year POF apprentice membership)


    For additional information on any of these Apprentice Training programs or to register, visit:  POF.org/apprentice.



     MORE on the Florida Apprentice Contact Lens Certificate Program


    Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel

    & Convention Center

    HOTEL RESERVATIONS:  The Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center is pleased to offer POF guests a reduced room rate of $145.00 with resort fees waived.


    For those staying at the hotel, overnight self-parking is reduced to $6 per day.  Daily self-parking is FREE.

    Please use the link above to make your hotel reservations or call the hotel at 1-954-753-5598 and advise the hotel representative that you are with the Vision Preview 2023 group in order to receive the reduced rate.  Please book your room by October 6, 2023.

    BOOK HOTEL

    Due to the nature of this event cancellations up to 2 weeks prior(October 20, 2023) will be issued a credit on their POF account to use for membership or a future education event.  Cancellations after October 20, 2023, education registration fees will not be credited or refunded.

    • February 23, 2024
    • 10:00 AM (CST)
    • February 25, 2024
    • 2:00 PM (CST)
    • The Island Ft Walton Destin by Hotel RL, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Phone: (850) 337-9194
    Register


    Spring Spectacle will be hosted at the beautiful Island Ft Walton Destin by Hotel RL.  

    Here are just some of the benefits for you at this location.

    Low Hotel Room Rates at the The Island, Ft Walton/ Destin by Hotel RL.  Starting as low as $125 per night,

    • Resort fee waived
    • Free Parking
    • Free Wi-Fi.

    Must book room by January 25, 2024

    BOOK HOTEL

    Guests may also book over the phone by calling 850-337-9194.

    Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm CDT to make their reservations.


    ·         Spring Spectacle  offers you the best in Optical Education available anywhere.

    ·         Earn all 20 CE hours for the renewal of your Florida license

    ·         World class education presented by the Nation's Leading Instructors 

    ·         Full Schedule of Education with eight hours of CE on Friday & Saturday

    ·         Apprentice/Sponsor Orientation & Hands-on Frame Fitting Workshop available

    ·         Visit International Optical Vendors & Suppliers at Spring Spectacle

    ·         Attend and support your profession 

    Full Details on Spring Spectacle 2024

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