Optician training in Florida

3 optician and eye care programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these eye care programs, and Florida has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Opticians fit customers for eyeglasses and contact lenses and help them choose frames and lenses. Most need a high school diploma and learn on the job, while some start with an associate degree or certificate in ophthalmic dispensing. Some states require a license, which usually takes an approved program or an apprenticeship and passed exams, and employers may want certification in eyeglass and contact lens dispensing.¹

In Florida, 2 of the 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 3 programs here are eye care assistant or technician course (2 programs) and optician (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 3 programs

How much does optician training cost in Florida?

$3,154 to $8,172

is what the 3 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Florida may also offer optician training. How these figures are made

Is there free optician training in Florida?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 9 people at 2 of the 3 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $3,154 to $8,172.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 3 optician and eye care programs in Florida approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Optician (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Vision Care Technology/Opticianry
Broward College-Cs
Fort Lauderdale
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Broward College-Cs, Fort LauderdaleOptician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$39,900
Price if you pay yourself$8,172
6 students trained with WIOA funding
School website, Vision Care Technology/Opticianry at Broward College-Cs
More details about Vision Care Technology/Opticianry at Broward College-Cs
Finished
41%
Working at 6 months
89%
Earned in a quarter
$9,975
Length
72 weeks, 16 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,460
Students counted
52
Earned a year, estimated
$39,900
Price if you pay yourself
$8,172
students trained with WIOA funding
6
School website, Vision Care Technology/Opticianry at Broward College-Cs
Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personEducation and courses
Optometric Assisting
Cape Coral Technical College
Cape Coral
Accredited school
Education and courses
Cape Coral Technical College, Cape CoralEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$35,600
Price if you pay yourself$3,154
3 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Optometric Assisting at Cape Coral Technical College
More details about Optometric Assisting at Cape Coral Technical College
Finished
72%
Working at 6 months
86%
Earned in a quarter
$8,900
Length
36 weeks, 30 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,507
Students counted
44
Earned a year, estimated
$35,600
Price if you pay yourself
$3,154
students trained with WIOA funding
3
Program website, Optometric Assisting at Cape Coral Technical College
Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Optometric Assisting
Manatee Technical College-Vs
Bradenton
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Manatee Technical College-Vs, BradentonEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$4,226
Program website, Optometric Assisting at Manatee Technical College-Vs
More details about Optometric Assisting at Manatee Technical College-Vs
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
27 weeks, 30 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$270
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$4,226
Program website, Optometric Assisting at Manatee Technical College-Vs

How to pay for optician training in Florida

WIOA funding can pay for optician training in Florida

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for optician training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for optician training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Optician training in Miami, Cape Coral, North Port and other Florida cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Florida

How optician training compares with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Florida

Where the Florida eye care program numbers come from

Which Florida eye care programs are on this list?

These are the eye care programs Florida approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Florida offers.

How the prices and results of Florida eye care programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about optician training in Florida

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