I will soon introduce the Optician Certification and Consumer Vision Protection Act to safeguard public health by requiring individuals who dispense eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision-correcting devices to be properly trained and certified. This legislation establishes a certification-based framework with uniform requirements for education, training, and professional accountability in the optical profession.

​Pennsylvania currently has no regulations governing optician practice.

This legislation addresses this gap by ensuring consistent qualifications for those who dispense optical products and establishing basic protections for their quality and distribution.
Without these guidelines, consumers face avoidable risks in the fitting and provision of vision-correcting devices. This legislation ensures safe, reliable, and professional optical care across the Commonwealth.

Key Provisions:

• Certification: Requires nationally recognized certifications in opticianry (ABO) and contact lens dispensing (NCLE).
• Training: Requires completion of an approved degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent program.
• Oversight: Establishes a state board to maintain a registry and oversee enforcement.
• Transition: Provides temporary registration for experienced in-state and out-of-state opticians, with a pathway to review and potential licensure.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to strengthen consumer protections and ensure that only qualified professionals dispense vision-correcting devices.