How to Become an Optician in North Dakota (2026)

Q: How long does optician training take in North Dakota?

Most people become an Optician in North Dakota through an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade.

Q: How much do opticians earn in North Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,230. Employment concentration in North Dakota is about 1.14 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for opticians in North Dakota?

North Dakota currently employs approximately 230 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Dakota employs about 230 opticians earning a median $45,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Optician here means completing an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Key Facts

Median wage (North Dakota): $45,230/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in North Dakota: 230 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.14x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 2.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Optician Schools in North Dakota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Front Range Community College	61.3	Contact school for pricing	$50,353	32%	Yes*	578 mi
2	Indian Hills Community College	56.1	Contact school for pricing	$50,322	Not reported	Yes*	572 mi
3	Elgin Community College	50.2	Contact school for pricing	$54,220	41%	—	675 mi
4	Iowa Western Community College	48.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,139	Not reported	Yes*	467 mi
5	College of Lake County	47.4	$4,788 - $14,400	$52,821	38%	—	674 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

North Dakota employs approximately 230 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,230 ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 6,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Optician in North Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: opticianry program or state-recognized apprentice path (find programs)
Typical timeline: an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade
Exam: ABO-NCLE and/or the state dispensing-optician exam
Median wage (North Dakota): $45,230 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in North Dakota

How to become an Optician in North Dakota? Complete an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in North Dakota? Yes. North Dakota typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do opticians earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for opticians in North Dakota is $45,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,220 and experienced professionals can earn $56,100 or more ¹.

How to Become an Optician in North Dakota

Meet entry rules. Confirm age and education with the program and employer. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
Complete an opticianry program or recognized apprentice path. Some states use a two-year program; others use a board-registered apprentice path. That is not a DAS construction apprenticeship.
Pass ABO-NCLE or the state exam. Confirm which exam the program and employer requires.
Apply for the dispensing-optician license. Apply to the program and employer in states that license opticians. Do not treat optometrist rows as the optician path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Optician License Requirements in North Dakota

Dispensing opticians are licensed in some states. The path is an opticianry program or board apprentice route, then the state exam. Optometrist licenses are a different occupation.

Typical path

Complete an opticianry program or board apprentice path.
Pass the required exam.
Apply to the program and employer where the state licenses opticians.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), opticians, dispensing wages in North Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	80	$45,040	$46,250	$37,220	$64,660
Bismarck	50	$45,770	$46,960	$38,240	$61,230
Grand Forks	40	$45,280	$44,310	$37,290	$51,900

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 230 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in North Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in North Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Dakota.

How much do opticians earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in North Dakota is $45,230, which is $1,330 below the national median of $46,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Dakota

Best Trade Schools in North Dakota (2026)

Top local programs

Best Optician Programs in North Dakota (2026)

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)