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Optician training in Ohio

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

5 schools offer these eye care programs, and Ohio 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 Ohio, 2 of the 5 programs take students without a high school diploma, 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 5 programs here are eye care assistant or technician course (4 programs) and optician certification exam prep (1 program).

See the 5 programs

How much does optician training cost in Ohio?

$1,913 to $8,605

is what the 4 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it
Length
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it

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

Is there free optician training in Ohio?

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

All 5 optician and eye care programs in Ohio approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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5 programs

  • Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Ophthalmic Medical Assisting Certificate

    Cuyahoga Community College

    Cleveland

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cuyahoga Community College, ClevelandEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,913
    School website, Ophthalmic Medical Assisting Certificate at Cuyahoga Community College
    More details about Ophthalmic Medical Assisting Certificate at Cuyahoga Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,913
    School website, Ophthalmic Medical Assisting Certificate at Cuyahoga Community College

  • Optician certification exam prepOnlineNo diploma needed

    Optician Certification Training

    Cuyahoga Valley Career Center

    Based in Brecksville, OH

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, based in Brecksville, OHOptician certification exam prep · Accredited schoolOnline · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,995
    Program website, Optician Certification Training at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
    More details about Optician Certification Training at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,995
    Program website, Optician Certification Training at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center

  • Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Eye Care / Ophthalmic Assistant

    Miami Valley Career Technology Center

    Clayton

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Miami Valley Career Technology Center, ClaytonEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,990
    More details about Eye Care / Ophthalmic Assistant at Miami Valley Career Technology Center
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $895
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,990

  • Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personEducation and courses

    Ophthalmic Technology

    Mercy College of Ohio

    Toledo

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Mercy College of Ohio, ToledoEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$8,605
    Program website, Ophthalmic Technology at Mercy College of Ohio
    More details about Ophthalmic Technology at Mercy College of Ohio
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,605
    Program website, Ophthalmic Technology at Mercy College of Ohio

  • Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personEducation and courses

    Ophthalmic Assistant

    Stark State College

    North Canton

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Stark State College, North CantonEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant at Stark State College
    More details about Ophthalmic Assistant at Stark State College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant at Stark State College

How to pay for optician training in Ohio

WIOA funding can pay for optician training in Ohio

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 Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo and other Ohio cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in Ohio

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

Where the Ohio eye care program numbers come from

Which Ohio eye care programs are on this list?

These are the eye care programs Ohio 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 Ohio offers.

How the prices and results of Ohio 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 Ohio

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Opticians
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List