How to Become an Optician in West Virginia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

West Virginia employs about 350 opticians earning a median $38,120 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.

Compare Optician Schools in West Virginia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
162.2$4,112 in-state / $13,184 out-of-state$45,38153%Yes*253 mi
260.6$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state$42,84443%Yes*250 mi
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359.9$4,998 in-state / $18,630 out-of-state$45,99836%Yes*266 mi
452.7$5,280 in-state / $11,718 out-of-state$54,14032%Yes*222 mi
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552.1$6,100 in-state / $11,300 out-of-state$48,89528%Yes*318 mi
650.7$5,517 in-state / $10,044 out-of-state$59,23516%Yes*179 mi
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750.1$17,943Not reported64%—275 mi
849.8$1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state$57,86845%Yes*227 mi
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949.2$5,154 in-state / $9,935 out-of-state$53,36940%Yes*274 mi
1048.9$5,075 in-state / $11,513 out-of-state$43,37146%Yes*112 mi
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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.

West Virginia employs approximately 350 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,120 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 West Virginia, 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 (West Virginia): $38,120 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in West Virginia

How to become an Optician in West Virginia? 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 West Virginia? Yes. West Virginia typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do opticians earn in West Virginia? The median annual wage for opticians in West Virginia is $38,120 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,250 and experienced professionals can earn $52,370 or more 1.

How to Become an Optician in West Virginia

  1. Meet entry rules. Confirm age and education with the program and employer. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. 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.
  3. Pass ABO-NCLE or the state exam. Confirm which exam the program and employer requires.
  4. 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 West Virginia

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

  1. Complete an opticianry program or board apprentice path.

  2. Pass the required exam.

  3. 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 West Virginia

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria1,080$59,520$57,120$37,100$78,010
Huntington-Ashland80$38,650$42,490$31,560$61,010
Charleston50$38,130$41,820$33,340$54,140
Hagerstown-Martinsburg40$43,660$44,340$34,790$55,910
Winchester40$58,190$58,500$43,770$77,460
Morgantown40$36,790$39,310$31,520$48,870
Wheeling40$39,780$42,950$33,370$59,020
Parkersburg-Vienna30$38,120$39,760$31,570$53,610

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 West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 350 opticians 1. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

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

How much do opticians earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in West Virginia is $38,120, which is $8,440 below the national median of $46,560 according to BLS data 1.

In West Virginia

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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

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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)