Optician training in Washington

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

2 schools offer these eye care programs, and Washington 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 Washington, 1 of the 2 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 2 programs here are optician (associate degree, 1 program) and optician certification exam prep (1 program).

See the 2 programs

How much does optician training cost in Washington?

$12,864

is the price of the one program that lists a price, if you pay yourself

These two programs

Finished the program: Not reported; Neither program reports it
Working 6 months later: Not reported; Neither program reports it
Earned a year, estimated: Not reported; Neither program reports it
Length: 60 weeks

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

Is there free optician training in Washington?

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.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴
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. The one program with a price costs $12,864.

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

All 2 optician and eye care programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

Optician (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Opticianry
Seattle Central College
Seattle
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Seattle Central College, SeattleOptician (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$12,864
Program website, Opticianry at Seattle Central College
More details about Opticianry at Seattle Central College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 21 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$12,864
Program website, Opticianry at Seattle Central College
Optician certification exam prepIn personNo diploma needed
Optician Certification Training
Shoreline Community College
Shoreline
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Shoreline Community College, ShorelineOptician certification exam prep · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
Program website, Optician Certification Training at Shoreline Community College
More details about Optician Certification Training at Shoreline Community 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, Optician Certification Training at Shoreline Community College

How to pay for optician training in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for optician training in Washington

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 Washington

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

Where the Washington eye care program numbers come from

Which Washington eye care programs are on this list?

These are the eye care programs Washington 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 Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington 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 Washington

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