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The OPTICAL TRAINING ACADEMY Of

The OAG  

(OPTICIANS ASSOCIATION Of GEORGIA)

Thomas Blair, Jr., LDO, ABOM

Program director

Prof. Thomas L. Schulz, LDO, ABOM

Program advisor

Jomo K. Harris, LDO, ABOC

Program Instructor

INTRODUCTION

The Optical Training Academy (OTA) was established by the Opticians Assoc. of Georgia in April 2K7 - by the OAG Board of Directors - in an effort to be of service to the Georgia opticianry community particularly apprentice/trainees as they prepared for the ABO/NCLE examination that are part of the pre-requisites to be a licensed optician in Georgia. The Academy also provides a mock practical exam class which simulates the state of Georgia practical examination which is an additional prerequisite to become licensed in Georgia.

The Academy does not guarantee by implication - real or imagined - a prospective students’ success in passing the ABO/NCLE examinations. The academy purpose is to assist a motivated apprentice/trainee be competitive on the license examination requirements. In that regard the Academy believes nothing will work, if you don’t! Having said that, the Academy does believe in walking the last mile with a student if they are willing to take the journey.

Access to the OTA is not difficult. We exist for the benefit of the optician apprentice/trainee community. We schedule classes each semester based on a pre-paid minimum of 5-10 students. For the foreseeable future classes will be held at the DeKalb Technical College Learning Center. We schedule classes around the ABO/NCLE exam schedule which is twice a year in Georgia. Generally speaking the ABO/NCLE exams are always the 3^rd weekend in May and November respectively. Registration for the examinations is handled through ABO/NCLE exclusively and all questions and application processes are directed to them at 800 296-1379. The Academy plays no role whatsoever with ABO/NCLE application procedures, deadlines, test locations, etc. The ABO website is www.abo-ncle.org . The OAG website is www.oagonline.org

To correct inaccurate information that seems to persist, it is important to make clear a program like this exists solely to attempt to prepare obviously uncertified personnel become certified. There is no official requirement by the ABO/NCLE organization that any course such as this be ABO/NCLE approved. This point of clarification is necessary as misinformation and outright disinformation is apparently being circulated throughout the optical community indicating otherwise.

The Academy course curriculum consists of an ABO and separate NCLE exam preparation review class and a separate simulated practical exam review which is a Lensometry workshop. These classes are available to anyone who wishes to participate.

As a special incentive to properly state registered apprentices the OAG has a special annual membership category for LDOA’s (Licensed dispensing optician apprentices) which is $100.00 per year. In turn a OAG LDOA member is afforded the privilege of paying a $50.00 fee per class – for the membership year - as opposed to the standard fee(s) in place at the time.

The OTA is appreciative of the confidence you have expressed in the Academy for your training needs, and looks forward to being of service as you progress through your apprenticeship training. We additionally encourage you to tell your associates about the program.

If the Academy can be of further service please do not hesitate to contact us.

Cordially, 

Thomas Blair, Jr., LDO, ABOM

OTA, Program Director

770 348-9955 (vm)

TBlair3@bellsouth.net

To download this introduction in Word format, click HERE

To download this in PDF format, click HERE