Legislative Overview
Licensing: Massachusetts is one of the 20 States that require licensing for opticians. We believe that the public is much better served by professionals with the proper training and mandated continuing education. In other States, except NH, there are no restrictions and anyone can open an optical shop or perform the duties of an optician without education, experience or knowledge.
We are also one of the few States that allow opticians to fit contact lenses and formally require both ABO and NCLE continuing education credits for license renewal. Although the NCLE requirement may seem unnecessary to those that don’t fit contact lenses, the fact that our license allows us this privilege compels every optician to become the best and most educated professional we can be in order to better serve the public. All knowledge gained through education and experience will allows us and our profession to continue to grow.
Leadership Development: OAM sends representatives to the annual OAA Leadership Meeting where the attendees are representatives of State Associations, like OAM, and is designed to bring these State Leaders together in order to learn and share. The information discussed during this meeting covers so many varied topics which help each State Association grow. The experience of other States in areas, including legislative, are presented and discussed for all attendees. There is much insight shared of hurdles overcome, methods that would be changed if done again as well as successes and failures. This meeting keeps OAM at the forefront of Opticianry issues and all available information.
Legal Representation At The State House: The OAM is very fortunate to have an excellent ally and legislative agent with Al Minehan. Al, and his firm, have their eyes open to any legislation being submitted that might impact opticians and our current scope of practice. Al has become a friend of opticianry and has done an excellent job keeping us updated on any concerns he might find.
Daily Legislative Protection: The OAM receives daily legislative alerts from two automated proposed bill review systems; CapWiz and Legis Alert. Any proposed bills affecting opticianry are immediately brought to our attention and reviewed by our legislative committee and legal counsel. If the bill is significant to opticians, the information is placed in our “alerts” section of the website as well as being send via an email alert to all those opticians registered on our “grassroots” alert response list.