The New York State Education Department (“SED”) Office of the Professions (“OP”) is alerting everyone to a vishing scam that has been brought to our attention. Phishing—or “vishing”—scams impersonate SED employees or websites attempting to collect licensure and personal information from the licensee. If you receive an inquiry which you believe to be suspicious do not provide any information. To verify if the inquiry was from OP, contact us directly. You may report any suspicious communication received to the Federal Trade Commission.
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License Application Forms for Ophthalmic Dispensing

Important Notice: DO NOT use Form 1 if you are already licensed in this profession in New York State. A New York State professional license is valid for life unless it is revoked, annulled, or suspended by the Board of Regents. To practice in New York State, your professional license must be registered. To renew your registration online, visit http://op.nysed.gov/services/online-registration-renewal. If your registration has lapsed for longer than 4 months, submit a Delayed Registration Application.

All applicants for licensure must initially submit Form 1 along with the $108 licensure and first registration fee. You must answer all questions and provide all information requested unless otherwise indicated. Failure to accurately complete all required parts of the application will delay its review. Additional forms below are required based on the licensure requirements of the profession. Do not use Form 1 to renew your existing license.

Continuing Your Application
If you have started an application within the past 30 days, and have not yet completed it, you can use this link to continue your application. You will need your Application ID, Social Security Number, and Date of Birth.

Upload Additional Documentation
If you have already completed an application, but you have additional documents or files to include in your previous submission, use this link to upload additional documentation. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Change Address or Name You are required to notify us within 30 days of any address or name changes. Please read the instructions to request this change.

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This form must be submitted directly by the educational institution you attended.

  • Section I: Complete this section of the form before sending it to your school. Be sure to sign and date item 7.
  • Section II: The Registrar or appropriate school official must complete this section and return the form in a school envelope directly to the Office of the Professions at the mailing address at the end of the form.

NOTE: For programs that are not registered by the New York State Education Department as licensure qualifying, or, if outside New York State, not accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA), an official transcript and a syllabus of the course of study must be included.

Electronic Education Documentation

The Office of the Professions (OP) will accept official electronic transcripts and forms from educational institutions (i.e. colleges/universities) or designated third-party* transcript entities located in the United States, Canada, Brazil and the Philippines provided that:

  • The transcript is the certified true and official academic record and the document does NOT have an expiration date**.
  • OP can independently verify that the documentation is received directly from the educational institution’s registrar or officially designated third-party.
  • If a third-party transcript provider is involved, it is clear that the educational institution has designated the third party as the official sole provider of its transcripts.
  • The applicant had no opportunity to directly access or alter the transcript before it is sent or transmitted.
  • Any educational institution education documentation submissions should be made electronically to DPLSEduc@nysed.gov***.

*OP will only accept third-party submissions after we have determined that the arrangement between the educational institution and the third party is consistent with our security and verification standards.

**Transcript documents with expiration dates cannot be accepted. Expirations on links to the document are acceptable.

***Do NOT use this email to submit a question, as we will be unable to provide a response. Submit a Contact Us Form for questions regarding specific applications or to check the status of a licensure application.

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This is only required for applicants licensed in another state or U.S. territory.

This form must be submitted directly by the licensing authority.

  • Section I: Complete this section of the form before sending it to the licensing authority of each jurisdiction in which you are or have been licensed as an ophthalmic dispenser. Be sure to sign and date item 8.
  • Section II: The licensing authority must complete this section, sign, date and return the form directly to the Office of the Professions at the mailing address at the end of the form.

Note: A Form 3 is not required for licenses/certificates issued by the New York State Education Department. Also, If the certification/verification documentation provided by a U.S. jurisdictions contains the same information requested in the Form 3, completion of a Form 3 for that jurisdiction is not necessary. For certification/verification documentation that does not contain the same information, a Form 3 will need to be completed for that jurisdiction.

Electronic Verification of Licensure, Certification and/or Examination

The Office of the Professions (OP) will accept electronic verifications of licensure, certification and examination completion from other licensing authorities located in the United States provided that:

  • OP can independently authenticate that the verification is received directly from the licensing authority.
  • The applicant had no opportunity to directly access or alter the verification before it is sent or transmitted.
  • Any licensing authority verification submissions should be made electronically to DPLSVerif@nysed.gov.*

*DO NOT use this email to submit a question, as we will be unable to provide a response. Submit a Contact Us Form for questions regarding specific applications or to check the status of a licensure application.

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If you have completed a two-year training program in ophthalmic dispensing approved by the New York State Education Department or a one-year training program in contact lens dispensing approved by the Department, complete Section I of this form and submit it to the individuals(s) who supervised your trainee experience. They must then complete Section II and submit the form directly to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form.

Electronic Verification of Experience

The Office of the Professions (OP) will accept experience forms directly from supervisors provided that:

  • OP can independently verify that the documentation is received directly from the supervisor
  • The applicant had no opportunity to directly alter the experience form before it is sent or transmitted.
  • Any experience documentation submissions should be made electronically to DPLSExperience@nysed.gov*.

*Do NOT use this email to submit a question, as we will be unable to provide a response. Submit a Contact Us Form for questions regarding specific applications or to check the status of a licensure application.

Additional Required Documentation

Applicants for ophthalmic dispensing licensure who have met the professional education requirement through an approved traineeship must also submit a certificate from the National Academy of Opticianry documenting completion of the Career Progression Program. In addition, the Department must have on file a high school transcript documenting completion of one year of mathematics such as algebra or geometry.

Applicants for certification in contact lens dispensing who have met the professional education requirement through an approved traineeship must also submit a certificate from the Contact Lens Society of America documenting completion of the Contact Lens Study Manual.

These certificates must be submitted directly by the issuing organization and will not be accepted if submitted by the applicant.

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Complete this form along with the $30 fee if you are applying for a Trainee Permit in Ophthalmic Dispensing and/or Contact Lens Dispensing. You must also submit a Form 5CS - Certification of Supervisor for Limited Permit along with your application.

Continuing Your Application If you have started an application within the past 30 days, and have not yet completed it, you can use this link to continue your application. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Upload Additional Documentation
If you have already completed an application, but you have additional documents or files to include in your previous submission, use this link to upload additional documentation. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Changes to Supervisors and/or Settings
If you change supervisors and/or settings, or you have to add or remove a supervisor or setting, after a permit is issued, you must obtain an amended permit using the Limited Permit Change Form. After changes are processed you will receive an amended permit. A fee is not required for an amended permit issued as a result of a change in supervisor or setting. You must also submit a Form 5CS - Certification of Supervisor for Limited Permit for each new supervisor you are adding (see Upload Additional Documentation above).

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All applicants for a limited permit must initially submit Form 5 along with the $35 limited permit fee. You must also submit a Form 5CS - Certification of Supervisor for Limited Permit along with your application.

Continuing Your Application If you have started an application within the past 30 days, and have not yet completed it, you can use this link to continue your application. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Upload Additional Documentation
If you have already completed an application, but you have additional documents or files to include in your previous submission, use this link to upload additional documentation. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Changes to Supervisors and/or Settings
If you change supervisors and/or settings, or you have to add or remove a supervisor or setting, after a permit is issued, you must obtain an amended permit using the Limited Permit Change Form. After changes are processed you will receive an amended permit. A fee is not required for an amended permit issued as a result of a change in supervisor or setting. You must also submit a Form 5CS - Certification of Supervisor for Limited Permit for each new supervisor you are adding (see Upload Additional Documentation above).

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All applicants for a limited permit must initially submit Form 5 along with the $35 limited permit fee. You must also submit a Form 5CS - Certification of Supervisor for Limited Permit along with your application.

Continuing Your Application If you have started an application within the past 30 days, and have not yet completed it, you can use this link to continue your application. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Upload Additional Documentation
If you have already completed an application, but you have additional documents or files to include in your previous submission, use this link to upload additional documentation. You will need your Application ID and Date of Birth.

Changes to Supervisors and/or Settings
If you change supervisors and/or settings, or you have to add or remove a supervisor or setting, after a permit is issued, you must obtain an amended permit using the Limited Permit Change Form. After changes are processed you will receive an amended permit. A fee is not required for an amended permit issued as a result of a change in supervisor or setting. You must also submit a Form 5CS - Certification of Supervisor for Limited Permit for each new supervisor you are adding (see Upload Additional Documentation above).

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This form is not for all applicants. Use this form ONLY if you are applying/have applied for a New York State Limited Permit as an Ophthalmic Dispenser or Contact Lens Dispenser, OR, a New York State Trainee permit as an Ophthalmic Dispenser or Contact Lens Dispenser ONLINE. 

•    Section I: Complete this section.
•    Section II: Your supervisor must complete this section before you can submit it to the Office of the Professions at the appropriate address at the end of the form. It is your responsibility to ensure your supervisor fully completes Section II. Failure to complete this form will delay its review.

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