About

Opticianry is a field of which I am proud to be a part. If you ask an optician, chances are they landed in this profession by chance, unless they were part of a family business.

A goal of “What’s an Optician?” is to have, “I want to be an optician”, a choice for young people as they vet the many career choices out there…also as a fantastic second career choice for men and women who want a career that is rewarding, interesting and fun. There are other opticians and organizations that work tirelessly to help spread the word of not only what an optician is and does but, to help make being an optician a “kitchen table word.”

I am currently Program Director of Vision Care Technology at Goodwin College and graduated from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, CT earning my Masters of Arts in Education (Curriculum and Instruction). In #ED570, Computers in the Classroom, we were charged with creating a website. I thought it would benefit more than my classroom, if I built a website that reached outside of the classroom to help promote opticianry as a viable profession.

Visit Goodwin's Majors Page to get a glimpse of their Vision Care Technology curriculum.

What is an optician?

Hi, my name is Maryann Santos. I am a licensed optician in CT and currently program director for Vision Care Technology at Goodwin College in East Hartford, CT.

Some of us in the field of opticianry are working hard to inform the public as to what an optician is and does. We are informing the public on this profession to make opticianry a kitchen table word, where kids will say, "I want to become an optician when I grow up."

Part of my Masters in Education (curriculum and instruction) program at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, CT, my Technology in the Classroom #ED570 class, requires us to create a website. I felt I would do more for my profession and future students by creating a website outside of the classroom.

You will learn more about me and my journey in my blog, but until then, please enjoy this website as it was created for YOU.

What colleges offer optician programs?

Learn more about how you can become an optician in your state by visiting the National Federation of Opticianry Schools website. If you live in a state that does not have a college that offers a program, contact me or the NFOS executive director.