To become a licensed optician in the State of New Mexico, you must meet minimum educational requirements. You are also required to take the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exam. In addition, candidates for licensure must take a practicum exam administered by the New Mexico Board of Optometry. The preparation involved in meeting these requirements is outlined in the following steps.
To prepare for a career in optometry in New Mexico, you need to complete a certificate or associate’s degree program. A high school diploma or equivalent is required in order to enroll in training programs. Various vocational schools and community colleges in New Mexico offer training programs in optometry. Certificate programs cover areas such as optical theory, eye physiology and lens management. Associate’s degree programs are more intensive, and cover areas such as anatomy, dispensing and troubleshooting in eye diagnosis. It is important to select an accredited school in order to meet licensure requirements. The New Mexico Board of Optometry maintains a list of accredited schools offering optometry educational programs.
