Requirements to become a licensed Dispensing Optician in the State of Arizona:

Original Applicant:

• Three (3) of the past six (6) years experience working as an optician***
• successful completion of ABO & NCLE exams
• high school graduate or equivalent
• picture of yourself taken within the past 6 months
• completed application and $100* fee
• 2 letters verifying employment (in the field of opticianry) over the past six years
• 3 letters attesting to good moral character

Submit application and required documentation to sign up to take state practical exam (offered in March and September)
After successful completion of practical exam, $100 fee for license.  ($200.00 total)

Please note: application fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

License by Comity ** (Reciprocity)

• letter from licensing board in current state verifying that your license is valid and in good standing
• photocopy of license
• picture of yourself taken within past six months
• completed application and $100* fee

After board approval, $100 license fee.  ($200.00 total)

* This fee should be submitted in the form of a MONEY ORDER or CASHIER'S CHECK made payable to the Arizona State Board of Dispensing Opticians.

**If you were not required to successfully complete the ABO and NCLE exams and a practical exam as a prerequisite to becoming licensed in your present state, you may not be eligible to obtain a license by comity from Arizona. Also if you were not licensed to dispense contacts and/or have had no experience in contact lens dispensing, you would not be eligible to obtain a license by comity from Arizona.  

***If applying under A.R.S §32-1683.5.(c) must submit evidence of graduation from a school of optical dispensing that presently meets the standards required for approval by a nationally recognized body on opticianry accreditation as determined by the board. The applicant must also have served an apprenticeship in optical dispensing as prescribed in subdivision (b) for one of the six years immediately preceding the date of application.

$135.00 renewal fee and completed application due by December 31st each year.

Reinstatement

• completed application and $235 fee
• Must be submitted within one year of expiration of license.

May be Required to take the State Practical Examination (if not completed within the five-year period immediately preceding the license expiration).

Requirements to obtain an Optical Establishment License in the State of Arizona:

• Completed application and $100*** fee,
• Must have licensed dispensing optician employed at least 32 hours a week,
• Indicate type of Entity, Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, or other,  and contact information.

Once the Board has approved the application, $100*** fee for license. ($200.00 total)

***These fees may be submitted together.

$135.00 renewal fee and completed application due by June 30th each year.

==========================================================================