Florida

Board

of

Opticianry

To become an Apprentice Optician in Florida you must:

1. Apply online or submit a completed application. Select “Apply Online” to begin your application.
2. Submit the required registration fee.
3. Submit a completed Sponsor Registration Form.
4. Submit a copy of high school diploma, transcript or equivalency certificate. To submit electronically, click here.

HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP

Find a Sponsor:

Did you know that you can obtain a list of licensed opticians in your area at any time 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Simply use the Department’s Public Data Portal to download a current list. For detailed instructions, use the Licensure Data Download Guide.

NOTE: An optician must be licensed for a minimum of 1 year to sponsor an apprentice. Sponsors may only have two apprentices at one time. Apprentices may only have one primary and one secondary sponsor at one time.

Before Sponsorship Begins:

Verify that your apprentice license has been issued by the Department. To verify, click here. Sponsored hours will not count until your apprentice license has been issued. An approval letter will also be sent to the new apprentice to notify the applicant of his/her Apprentice Optician number and starting date.

During Apprenticeship:

A total of 6,240 hours of training under the supervision of an approved sponsor is required. The hours must be documented on the Apprentice Sponsor Report Form to receive credit. Apprentices have 5 years to complete all requirements of the program.

Apprentices must complete an Apprentice Orientation course from a Board approved provider listed on www.cebroker.com within 1 year of being licensed as an Apprentice Optician. Apprentices will receive 2 hours of credit upon completion and submission of a copy of the certificate of completion to the Board Office. To submit to the Board Office electronically, click here.

Apprentices must complete 32 hours of contact lens training pursuant to Chapter 64B12-16.003(6)(h) with a registered sponsor who is a Board-Certified optician, Florida-licensed optometrist or Florida-licensed allopathic or osteopathic physician, or the apprentice must complete a Board-approved training.

Looking for other ways to obtain hours towards your apprenticeship? Please see below:

• On January 30, 2017, the Florida State Board of Opticianry approved the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP) offered by the National Academy of Opticianry. Apprentices receive a total of 2,080 hours upon completion of the OCPP program. For more information click here.
• On May 31, 2024, the Florida State Board of Opticianry approved the Optician Development Program (ODP) offered by Optical Training Institute. Apprentices receive a total of 2,080 hours upon completion of the digital training program. For more information click here.
• Coursework at the associate’s level or higher from a regionally accredited school of Opticianry will count towards the accumulation of hours at a rate of 86.67 hours per credit hour. Coursework must be documented on an official transcript and sent to the Board Office directly under seal.
• An apprentice can claim an unlimited number of hours of continuing education (CE) credit over the entire length of the apprenticeship. CE must be taken from a Board approved provider listed on cebroker.com. Each credit hour of board approved CE will count as 1 hour towards the apprenticeship program.

Please see Rule 64B12-16.003, Florida Administrative Code, for more information.

Need to Add a New Sponsor? Follow the steps below:

STEP ONE: Provide the Sponsor Registration Form to your new or additional sponsor for completion.

STEP TWO: Submit completed Sponsor Registration Form signed by the new or additional sponsor to the Board Office. To submit electronically, click here.

NOTE: Incomplete forms will be returned for correction and will cause additional delay.

Need to Terminate a Sponsor? Follow the steps below:

STEP ONE: Provide the Apprentice Sponsor Report Form to the sponsor you are terminating for completion.

STEP TWO: Submit completed Apprentice Sponsor Report Form signed by your sponsor to the Board Office. To submit electronically, click here.

NOTE: You must submit within 30 days from the date of terminating the sponsor. The hours will not count after this time. Incomplete forms will be returned for correction and will cause additional delay.

Completion of Apprenticeship:

Apprentices are responsible for submitting the Apprentice Sponsor Report Form within 180 days of the date of terminating a sponsor or completing the apprenticeship program. To submit electronically, click here.

Please see Rule 64B12-16.004, Florida Administrative Code, for more information.

SUPERVISION OF APPRENTICES

• An Apprentice Optician may perform opticianry tasks only under the direct supervision and physical presence of a licensed Optician, Ophthalmologist or Optometrist licensed under the laws of this state. An optician must be licensed in this state for at least 1 year before providing supervision.
• A sponsor may only supervise 2 Apprentices at any given time.
• An Apprentice may have 2 sponsors, a primary and a secondary sponsor, and may only work at the location(s) specified on the application.
• Sponsors are required to keep copies of all apprentice records for a period of 6 years or one year after the date the apprentice is licensed as an optician, and pursuant to Chapter 64B12- 16.009, Florida Administrative Code., the sponsor shall provide copies of the apprentice’s time records to the Board upon request.