National Academy Of Opticianry

What National Academy Of Opticianry does

National Academy of Opticianry (NAO), also known as "The Academy," is a non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1963 and headquartered in Landover, Maryland. The organization is dedicated exclusively to education, training, and career development for opticians, operating with a small staff of 9 employees. NAO's core offering is the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP), a home study curriculum of four volumes with end-of-volume tests and a cumulative final examination, with an optional fifth volume for NCLE contact lens certification preparation. The program is recognized by state licensing boards in at least 12 U.S. states and by the National Apprenticeship and Training Standards Committee as core training for state apprenticeships, and is used internationally in Canada, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

The technology stack consists of a custom Learning Management System hosted at nao.acornplms.com for OCPP delivery, a WooCommerce-based online store (nao.org/shop) for materials and CEC course sales, and ClassMarker integration for online examination. Supporting products include Continuing Education Courses (CECs) for ABO and NCLE credit (including Florida-approved courses), exam preparation materials for ABO and NCLE certification (tutorials, review books, flashcards, DVD sets), the quarterly Vision of the Industry newsletter bundled with membership, and a free job bank connecting employers and opticians. Articulation agreements with Hillsborough Community College and Reynolds Community College award 14 college credits toward opticianry associate degrees.

Revenue is generated through a mix of $75 annual membership dues (recurring subscription), OCPP tuition ranging from $900 to $1,200 per student (one-time with optional payment plans), employer-sponsored enrollment contracts with major optical retailers including Visionworks, Luxottica, National Vision, and VSP Ventures (enterprise one-time), per-course CEC fees ($5-$12.50), and unit-priced reference materials and merchandise. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer self-serve online enrollment, enterprise employer-sponsored enrollment, physical mail order for printed materials, and virtual Zoom-based seminars with ABO continuing education credits. NAO is governed independently as a non-profit with no parent company, external investors, or subsidiaries.

Name

National Academy Of Opticianry

Legal name

National Academy of Opticianry

Website

https://nao.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Opticianry Education & Certification Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting (EDAOAJAK)

Keywords

• Opticianry education training
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing education courses
• Home study opticianry
• Membership professional association

Headquarters

HQ city

Landover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues provide access to member-only pricing on educational materials, discounts on courses, and the Vision of the Industry newsletter.
2. OCPP Program Tuition: Home study program tuition ranging from $900-$1,200 depending on materials format and payment plan. Payment plans available with $300 down payment plus monthly installments.
3. Exam Preparation Materials: Sale of study materials, books, flash cards, DVD sets, and review courses for ABO and NCLE certification exams at member and non-member pricing.
4. Continuing Education Courses: Online CECs for ABO and NCLE credits with per-course pricing, including Florida-approved courses.
5. Testing Fees: $20 fee for booklet-format testing plus potential late fees. Online testing included in tuition.
6. Employer Sponsorships: Companies including Visionworks, Luxottica, National Vision, and VSP Ventures pay for employee enrollment in OCPP program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Academy of Opticianry is an international nonprofit membership organization that delivers opticianry education through the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP), a self-paced home study curriculum of four study volumes plus an optional fifth volume for NCLE certification, administered via a dedicated Learning Management System. It supplements OCPP with ABO and NCLE exam preparation materials, online continuing education courses (CECs), a quarterly Vision of the Industry newsletter, and a free Job Bank, all sold directly to individual opticians/apprentices or through employer-sponsored enrollment programs.

Product overview

The National Academy of Opticianry operates as an educational organization offering a portfolio of training and certification preparation products. The core offering is the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP), a home study program with five volumes covering opticianry theory and practice, supplemented by two optional college credit articulations with Hillsborough and Reynolds Community Colleges. Supporting products include Exam Preparation for ABO (spectacle certification) and Exam Preparation for NCLE (contact lens certification), which offer various study materials including tutorials, flashcards, review books, DVD sets, and reference texts. The Continuing Education Courses (CECs) program provides ongoing professional development for ABO and NCLE credits. Additional offerings include NAO Membership (providing member pricing and newsletter access), the NAO Job Bank for employment services, and the NAO Awards Program for professional recognition. The organization also offers merchandise through the NAO Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP): A home study program providing comprehensive theoretical education in opticianry, consisting of four study volumes and a cumulative final examination with an optional fifth book for NCLE certification preparation.
• Vision of the Industry Newsletter
• OCPP Learning Management System (LMS)

Products and services

• Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 80 continuing education hours provided annually through educational seminars

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Office DepotminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2024Member discount program offering NAO members up to 75% off on office, home and school supplies at Office Depot OfficeMax. Exclusive benefits include contract pricing on HP Ink & Toner, discounted copy/print services, and free next-day delivery on qualifying orders over $50.
• Hillsborough Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreement awarding 14 college credits toward an Associate in Science degree in Opticianry for OCPP graduates. OCPP courses map to specific OPT courses (OPT 1000, OPT 1460, OPT 1460L, OPT 1155, OPT 2800L, OPT 2801L). Students must complete all five courses with a B grade (80%) or better and enroll within 5 years of OCPP completion.
• Reynolds Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwards 14 college credits through advanced placement to OCPP graduates pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree in Opticianry. Students must enroll in Reynolds program, submit advanced placement portfolio within 10 years of OCPP completion, and complete with B grade (80%) or better.
• VisionworksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer-sponsored OCPP enrollment for Visionworks employees. Company pays tuition in two phases: $400 for Volume One, $700 for remaining volumes. Employees have up to 24 months to complete (36 months based on state regulations). Visionworks owns enrollment and study materials if employee terminates.
• LuxotticamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer-sponsored OCPP enrollment for Luxottica retail employees. Luxottica pays tuition in two phases: $400 for Volume One, $700 for remaining volumes. Payment processed within 3-4 weeks of application submission.
• National VisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer-sponsored OCPP enrollment for National Vision employees. Company pays Phase I ($400) and Phase II ($500 for virtual books or $700 for both virtual and physical books). Employees have up to 36 months to complete.
• VSP VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer-sponsored OCPP enrollment for VSP retail employees across EyeZone, Family Eyecare Associates, and other VSP-owned practices in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas. VSP pays $400 for Volume One and $500 for remaining volumes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ProTrain: ProTrain is an online vocational training provider with a broad catalog of workforce certifications. While not specialized in opticianry today, it represents the type of digital-first competitor that could expand into NAO's niche.

Broad incumbents

• American Optometric Association: AOA is the leading professional association for optometrists, with overlapping education and advocacy missions in eyecare. It operates at the parent profession level that includes the opticianry subspecialty NAO serves.
• American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO/NCLE): ABO and NCLE administer the national certification examinations that NAO's OCPP curriculum prepares students for. They are complementary rather than directly competitive but anchor the broader certification ecosystem that frames NAO's value proposition.

Direct peers

• Reynolds Community College: Reynolds Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science in Opticianry and has a parallel articulation agreement with NAO. It is both a partner and a direct competitor in opticianry credentialing.
• Penn Foster Career School: Penn Foster is an accredited online career school offering self-paced vocational programs including opticianry training. It competes directly with NAO's OCPP for adult learners seeking flexible, distance-based certification preparation.
• Hillsborough Community College: Hillsborough Community College offers an Associate in Science in Opticianry and has an articulation agreement with NAO awarding OCPP graduates 14 credits. It is both a partner and a comparable opticianry education provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ctucker_nao
• Facebookfacebook.com/143263103235
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalacademyofopticianry19
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-academy-of-opticianry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Academy Of Opticianry