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Optician training in Michigan

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

4 schools offer these eye care programs, and Michigan 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 Michigan, 2 of the 4 programs take students without a high school diploma and 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 4 programs here are optician certification exam prep (3 programs) and ophthalmic technician (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 4 programs

How much does optician training cost in Michigan?

$1,995 to $13,953

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 4 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not reported
None of the 4 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
Not enough data
4 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 Michigan may also offer optician training. How these figures are made

Is there free optician training in Michigan?

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

All 4 optician and eye care programs in Michigan approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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4 programs

  • Ophthalmic technician (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Ophthalmic Technician

    Henry Ford College

    Dearborn

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Henry Ford College, DearbornOphthalmic technician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$20,400
    Price if you pay yourself$13,953
    Program website, Ophthalmic Technician at Henry Ford College
    More details about Ophthalmic Technician at Henry Ford College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,095
    Length
    96 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $5,000
    Students counted
    29
    Earned a year, estimated
    $20,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,953
    Program website, Ophthalmic Technician at Henry Ford College

  • Optician certification exam prepOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Optician Certification Training

    Andrews University

    Based in Berrien Springs, MI

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Andrews University, based in Berrien Springs, MIOptician certification exam prep · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,995
    Program website, Optician Certification Training at Andrews University
    More details about Optician Certification Training at Andrews University
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    26 weeks, 6 hours a week
    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 Andrews University

  • Optician certification exam prepOnlineNo diploma needed

    Optician Certification Training

    Central Michigan University

    Based in Mt Pleasant, MI

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Central Michigan University, based in Mt Pleasant, MIOptician 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 Central Michigan University
    More details about Optician Certification Training at Central Michigan University
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    24 weeks, 6 hours a week
    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 Central Michigan University

  • Optician certification exam prepOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Optician Certification Training

    Glen Oaks Community College

    Based in Centreville, MI

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Glen Oaks Community College, based in Centreville, MIOptician certification exam prep · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,445
    Program website, Optician Certification Training at Glen Oaks Community College
    More details about Optician Certification Training at Glen Oaks Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,445
    Program website, Optician Certification Training at Glen Oaks Community College

How to pay for optician training in Michigan

WIOA funding can pay for optician training in Michigan

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 Michigan

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

Where the Michigan eye care program numbers come from

Which Michigan eye care programs are on this list?

These are the eye care programs Michigan 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 Michigan offers.

How the prices and results of Michigan 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 Michigan

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