Prior to this date, the National Academy of Opticianry was the recognized accrediting agency for ophthalmic education programs. The Commission accredits educational programs only not individuals. The Commission is committed to developing and maintaining educational standards for quality ophthalmic education programs while recognizing the changing needs of the students and institutions, as well as the needs of the general public with regard to opticianry. It is with this goal in mind that the Commission strives to ensure the profession has available a flow of competent opticianry professionals, and to assure the public of quality, professional opticianry care. Accreditation is a means of assuring the profession and the general public that graduates of accredited programs have received a quality education, enabling them to perform their career functions with the highest degree of competence.
Accreditation is desirable for a variety of reasons.
The most obvious is simply to assure the public that program graduates are top-notch. Second, many grants and other funding programs require accreditation. Third, nearly half of the states which require opticians to be licensed also require that these opticians have graduated from a program accredited by the Commission. In short, accreditation implies a high degree of credibility for both the program and its graduates. The ophthalmic technician is an individual who grinds and polishes lenses and fabricates eyewear.