Optician training in Connecticut

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

2 schools offer these eye care programs, and Connecticut 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 Connecticut, all 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

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 Connecticut?

$2,129 to $2,953

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 1 program reports 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 Connecticut may also offer optician training. How these figures are made

Is there free optician training in Connecticut?

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 $2,129 to $2,953.

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

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

3 programs

Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Ophthalmic Assistant
Asnuntuck Community College
Enfield
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Asnuntuck Community College, EnfieldEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$31,800
Price if you pay yourself$2,953
School website, Ophthalmic Assistant at Asnuntuck Community College
More details about Ophthalmic Assistant at Asnuntuck Community College
Finished
92%
Working at 6 months
75%
Earned in a quarter
$7,950
Length
12 weeks, 7 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
32
Earned a year, estimated
$31,800
Price if you pay yourself
$2,953
School website, Ophthalmic Assistant at Asnuntuck Community College
Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Ophthalmic Assistant (non-credit)
CT State Community College
New Britain
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
CT State Community College, New BritainEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$2,129
Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant (non-credit) at CT State Community College
More details about Ophthalmic Assistant (non-credit) at CT State Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
10 weeks, 8 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$2,129
Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant (non-credit) at CT State Community College
Eye care assistant or technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Ophthalmic Assistant Certification
CT State Community College
New Britain
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
CT State Community College, New BritainEye care assistant or technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$2,490
Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant Certification at CT State Community College
More details about Ophthalmic Assistant Certification at CT State Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
11 weeks, 16 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$95
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$2,490
Program website, Ophthalmic Assistant Certification at CT State Community College

How to pay for optician training in Connecticut

WIOA funding can pay for optician training in Connecticut

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.

Other training in Connecticut

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

Where the Connecticut eye care program numbers come from

Which Connecticut eye care programs are on this list?

These are the eye care programs Connecticut 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 Connecticut offers.

How the prices and results of Connecticut 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 Connecticut

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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