Chapters and CEC Information

OAW 2009  Chapter Leaders  

 Seattle Chapter (including former South Seattle Chapter)

- Barbara Galvani 206-324-6831

West Sound Chapter - Becky Doherty 360-417-1244

Tacoma Chapter - Linda Orton 253-862-8943

Southeast (Walla Walla) Chapter - David Forsyth 509-529-2020

Wenatchee Chapter - Lynda Cavalini 509-884-9595

Central WA Yakima Chapter - Donna Hatch 509-961-4169

Columbia Basin (Tri - Cities) Chapter - Joyce Walcott 509-735-2050

Spokane Chapter - Barb Demmerly 509-332-0820

East Lake Washington - Van Rue 435-344-3883

   On behalf of the Board of Directors we would like to thank all the Labs that get behind the Opticians in Washington and support the Chapter meetings. The next time you call to order your jobs from these labs take a moment and thank them. They supply food and meeting places and financial support to the OAW Chapters  

Continuing education credits to renew your Washington State license do not have to be either ABO or NCLE approved! State approved courses that are neither ABO nor NCLE qualify for renewal on your license. Also, since our state’s regulations exceed both ABO and/or NCLE requirements, you can simply send a photocopy of your current Washington State License to renew your ABO and NCLE certificates (along with their fees, of course). The following WAC is applicable.

WAC 246-824-075   Continuing education requirements for dispensing opticians.  Purpose and scope. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure the continued high quality of services provided by the licensed dispensing optician. Continuing education consists of educational activities designed to review existing concepts and techniques and conveys information and knowledge about advances in the field of opticianry, so as to keep the licensed dispensing opticians abreast of current and forecasted developments in a rapidly changing field.

     (1) Basic requirements. Licensed dispensing opticians must complete thirty hours of continuing education every three years as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.

     (2) Fifteen of the credit hours must relate to contact lenses.

     (3) Qualification of program for continuing education credit. Courses offered by the organizations and methods listed in this section will be presumed to qualify as continuing education courses. The secretary reserves the authority to refuse to accept credits in any course if the secretary determines that the course did not provide information sufficient in amount or relevancy to opticianry. Qualifying organizations and methods for the purposes of this section shall include in-class training, correspondence courses, video and/or audio tapes offered by any of the following:

     (a) American board of opticianry;

     (b) National academy of opticianry;

     (c) Optical laboratories association;

     (d) National contact lens examiners;

     (e) Pacific coast contact lens society;

     (f) Contact lens society of America;

     (g) Opticians association of Washington;

     (h) Opticianry colleges or universities approved by the secretary;

     (i) Speakers sponsored by any of the above organizations;

     (j) Any state or national opticianry association; and

     (k) Additional qualifying organizations or associations as approved by the secretary.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-824-075, filed 2/13/98 , effective 3/16/98 . Statutory Authority: RCW 43.17.060 and 18.130.070. 91-09-024 (Order 155), § 246-824-075, filed 4/10/91 , effective 5/11/91 .]

ABO & NCLE has advanced certification

Qualifications to sit for the test: