CIP 51.1801 · CLASSIFICATION 2020

Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician.

A program that prepares individuals to adapt and fit corrective eyewear, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, as prescribed by ophthalmologists or optometrists; to assist patients in selecting appropriate frames; and to prepare work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians. Includes instruction in geometrical optics, ophthalmic optics, anatomy of the eye, optical instrumentation, use and maintenance of adjustment and cleaning tools, prescription interpretation, contact lens adaptation and fitting, prosthesis fitting, facial and eye measuring, pathology identification, record-keeping, and patient and business administrative tasks.

How to use this list

These institutions reported at least one first-major completion in this field in the connected reporting years ending 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020. This shows historical award activity, not a complete list of available programs or an assurance that a course is accepting applications.

Compare the degree level, curriculum, teaching language and costs on the institution’s current official website. Related subjects may use different CIP codes.

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Sources: NCES CIP 2020 classification and C2023_A.zip, C2024_A.zip, C2025_A.zip, C2020_A.zip, C2021_A.zip, C2022_A.zip, C2024_A.zip.

Connected Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician award observations

Each row describes one ending year and award level for CIP 51.1801. Institution counts overlap across levels and years. Award counts are historical first-major awards, not unique people, available places, programme quality or a graduation rate.

Year ending	Award level	Reporting institutions	Positive awards
2025	Certificate 1–2 years	3	88
2025	Associate degree	21	250
2025	Certificate 2–4 years	2	15
2025	Certificate 12 weeks to under 1 year	5	54
2024	Certificate 1–2 years	4	58
2024	Associate degree	23	224
2024	Certificate 2–4 years	3	12
2024	Certificate 12 weeks to under 1 year	5	58
2023	Certificate 1–2 years	3	77
2023	Associate degree	22	235
2023	Certificate 2–4 years	3	13
2023	Certificate 12 weeks to under 1 year	5	72
2022	Certificate 1–2 years	4	89
2022	Associate degree	24	269
2022	Certificate 2–4 years	2	8
2022	Certificate 12 weeks to under 1 year	5	79
2021	Certificate 1–2 years	5	119
2021	Associate degree	22	318
2021	Certificate 2–4 years	3	16
2021	Certificate 12 weeks to under 1 year	4	60
2020	Certificate 1–2 years	4	108
2020	Associate degree	24	286
2020	Certificate 2–4 years	3	21
2020	Certificate 12 weeks to under 1 year	3	86

A year ending 2025 describes July 2024–June 2025. Do not add different years to estimate an entering class or current enrolment. Follow an institution's field link below to inspect the exact records.

These counts cover exact institution-ID matches to our connected directory, rather than a complete national total. Historical providers outside that population remain in the original source evidence and are not assigned invented matches. Read the population and archive rules →

Research the exact programme behind this field

CIP 51.1801 is a reporting classification. The official definition above explains its scope, while a university may use a different programme title. Related fields in classification family 51 can involve different curricula and award levels.

On the current institution website, record the exact degree title, campus, entry route, teaching language, curriculum and cycle. Compare those details with the classification definition before assuming that two similarly named degrees cover the same subject. For regulated professions, check the relevant licensing or recognition body's current requirements separately.

A positive award observation establishes historical activity in this classification. It does not confirm a current application opening, professional recognition, a specific delivery format or career outcome.

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