FLORIDA Board Certified OptICIAN

Florida Opticians & Contact LensEs

Florida Licensed Opticians may fill, fit, adapt, or dispense soft contact lenses, extended wear contact lenses, or hard contact lenses only to the extent authorized and under the supervision of the prescribing medical doctor or optometrist.

A Florida Board-Certified Optician, is a Florida licensed optician that may fill, fit, adapt, or dispense any soft contact lens prescription without the direct supervision of the prescribing doctor. A board-certified optician may fill, fit, adapt, or dispense any extended wear or hard contact lens prescription to the extent authorized to do so by the prescribing allopathic or osteopathic physician or optometrist.

How to Become A Board Certified Optician

To become a Board Certified Optician in Florida, complete the following requirements:

• Be a Florida licensed optician.
• Successfully pass the NCLE exam. If you obtained your Florida optician license prior to September 1985, you must submit a copy of your score sheet from the NCLE showing the date you passed the examination. Do not send the NCLE certificate.
• Submit proof of satisfactory completion of a Board approved 20-hour Contact Lens Fitting Course for Board Certification. POF holds this course at least once a year. 
• Submit a completed and signed board certification application. Please type or print clearly in black ink.
• Send the above completed certification application along with a one time application fee of $50 in a check or money order made payable to the Department of Health. The application fee to become a board certified optician is non-refundable.

Proof of Board Certification

When the Board of Opticianry receives a board certification application and the optician meets the certification requirements, the board office adds a "board certified" qualification to their license in the Department of Health’s licensure database. In approximately 2-3 weeks, the optician receives a duplicate license through the U.S. mail that shows the following:

QUALIFICATION(S):  BOARD CERTIFIED

More information on POF's  Contact Lens Fitting Course for Board Certification