Newly formed United Opticians Association Creates a Voice for US Opticians

Wednesday, July 10 2024 | 15 h 31 min | News

The American Board of Opticianry (ABO) & National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) and National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) have announced the formation of the United Opticians Association (UOA), an organization dedicated to serving the Spectacle and Contact Lens Optician professions.

While certified courses from American organizations are not recognized by Canadian Opticianry regulators, courses offered may be used for “smart goals” under the new competency systems in British Columbia and Alberta and self-directed CE in Ontario, according to Opticians Association of Canada Provincial Program Coordinator, Dalie Schellen.

While the ABO and NCLE and the Opticians Association of America are labeled as “American,” the entities have been substantially involved in numerous extensive mission trips and other outreach activities.

ABO & NCLE donated substantial monies, and efforts to the opening of a vision clinic in a remote area of Ghana, and both ABO & NCLE, OAA , and NFOS, have also invested and sponsored numerous international mission trips on behalf of Spectacle and Contact Lens Opticians.

The UOA is the result of years of dedicated efforts by leaders across the world of US Opticianry to create a unified body that supports and advances the profession in numerous ways. This innovative association brings together national organizations such as the Opticians Association of America, the National Federation of Opticianry Schools, and the Government and Industry Relations expertise of the ABO & NCLE.

ABO & NCLE Board and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools are both offering all ABO & NCLE Certificants and current NFOS Students a complimentary one-year membership to the UOA, valued at $199 and valid through July 1, 2025. This gesture of appreciation is designed to help ABO & NCLE Certificants and NFOS Students take full advantage of the extensive benefits the UOA has to offer.

Ronnie Harbert, the current President of UOA, emphasized the importance of this unification: “By bringing together all of these organizations, we can better spearhead the representation and protection of the opticianry profession. The UOA unites the best of each organization, focusing efforts to provide one United Opticians Association protecting all spectacle and contact lens opticians.”

Click HERE for the press release.

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