Optician training in Wisconsin

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

3 schools offer these eye care programs, and Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, 1 of the 3 programs takes students without a high school diploma, 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

All 3 are the same kind of program: eye care assistant or technician course.

See the 3 programs

How much does optician training cost in Wisconsin?

$4,529 to $5,256

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

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 2 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 Wisconsin may also offer optician training. How these figures are made

Is there free optician training in Wisconsin?

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.²³⁴
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 $4,529 to $5,256.

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

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

3 programs

Eye care assistant or technician courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Optometric Technician
Madison Area Technical College
Madison
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Madison Area Technical College, MadisonEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$35,400
Price if you pay yourself$4,529
School website, Optometric Technician at Madison Area Technical College
More details about Optometric Technician at Madison Area Technical College
Finished
50%
Working at 6 months
58%
Earned in a quarter
$8,857
Length
32 weeks, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
142
Earned a year, estimated
$35,400
Price if you pay yourself
$4,529
School website, Optometric Technician at Madison Area Technical College
Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personEducation and courses
Ophthalmic Assistant
Madison Area Technical College - Local Programs
Madison
Accredited school
Education and courses
Madison Area Technical College - Local Programs, MadisonEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$57,000
Price if you pay yourself$4,736
Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant at Madison Area Technical College - Local Programs
More details about Ophthalmic Assistant at Madison Area Technical College - Local Programs
Finished
86%
Working at 6 months
30%
Earned in a quarter
$14,245
Length
20 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
47
Earned a year, estimated
$57,000
Price if you pay yourself
$4,736
Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant at Madison Area Technical College - Local Programs
Eye care assistant or technician courseHybridNo diploma needed
Ophthalmic Medical Assistant
Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Lakeshore Technical College, ClevelandEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$24,400
Price if you pay yourself$5,256
Program website, Ophthalmic Medical Assistant at Lakeshore Technical College
More details about Ophthalmic Medical Assistant at Lakeshore Technical College
Finished
52%
Working at 6 months
75%
Earned in a quarter
$6,091
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
$638
Students counted
42
Earned a year, estimated
$24,400
Price if you pay yourself
$5,256
Program website, Ophthalmic Medical Assistant at Lakeshore Technical College

How to pay for optician training in Wisconsin

WIOA funding can pay for optician training in Wisconsin

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 Madison, Manitowoc and other Wisconsin cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Wisconsin

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

Where the Wisconsin eye care program numbers come from

Which Wisconsin eye care programs are on this list?

These are the eye care programs Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin offers.

How the prices and results of Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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