June 2026
This opticians census is part of the Vermont Department of Health’s healthcare provider data program, which is used to monitor and measure the supply of health care providers in Vermont over time. Vermont professionals are relicensed every two years. Data for this report were obtained during the July 2024 relicensing period and represent a snapshot of the profession at that time.
Opticians dispense glasses and contact lenses based on the prescriptions of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Their job also includes molding eyeglass frames to fit patients and advising on proper eyewear care. Opticians also have administrative duties.
If you need help accessing or understanding this information, contact AHS.VDHPhysicianCensus@vermont.gov
74 opticians are actively practicing in Vermont and provide 62.8 full-time equivalents (FTEs).
The number of FTEs decreased between 2022 and 2024 from 72.7 to 62.8.
There are no opticians practicing in Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange and Windham Counties.
96 opticians renewed their licenses during the surveyed period and 95 of these completed the workforce survey for a response rate of 99%.
Of the 95 respondents, 74 (78%) indicated they are actively practicing in Vermont.
38% (8 out of 21) of opticians who are not currently providing care in Vermont indicated they planned to do so within the next 12 months.
The remainder of this report is based on the 74 opticians who reported actively working in Vermont.
| Average weekly hours – at all sites | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 20 hours | 6 | 8% |
| 20 to 39 hours | 28 | 38% |
| 40 hours or more | 40 | 54% |
| County | Ratio of FTEs per 100,000 population |
|---|---|
| Addison | 8.0 |
| Bennington | 19.1 |
| Caledonia | 6.6 |
| Chittenden | 20.3 |
| Essex | 0.0 |
| Franklin | 0.0 |
| Grand Isle | 0.0 |
| Lamoille | 8.8 |
| Orange | 0.0 |
| Orleans | 6.5 |
| Rutland | 6.0 |
| Washington | 7.5 |
| Windham | 0.0 |
| Windsor | 6.8 |
| Year | FTEs |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 62.8 |
| 2022 | 72.7 |
| 2020 | 72.0 |
| 2018 | 97.5 |
| 2016 | 86.0 |
| Gender | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 48 | 68% |
| Male | 22 | 31% |
| Prefer to self-describe | 1 | 1% |
Four percent of opticians preferred not to answer or were missing data for gender.
| Age | Count | percent |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | 0 | 0% |
| 25 to 34 | 7 | 9% |
| 35 to 44 | 17 | 23% |
| 45 to 54 | 23 | 31% |
| 55 to 64 | 23 | 31% |
| 65 and older | 4 | 5% |
Respondents were asked to select their race and ethnicity and could select multiple responses or choose not to answer.
| Race and ethnicity | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 63 | 94% |
| Middle Eastern or North African | 2 | 3% |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 1 | 1% |
| Asian | 1 | 1% |
| Black | 0 | 0% |
| Hispanic or Latino/a, or of Spanish origin | 0 | 0% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
| Prefer to self-describe | 0 | 0% |
Nine percent of opticians preferred not to answer or were missing data for race and ethnicity.
| Location of highest degree | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 59 | 81% |
| Northeast excluding VT | 12 | 16% |
| Midwest | 1 | 1% |
| West | 1 | 1% |
Missing data for 1 individual.
| Main Setting | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Optometry Clinic | 29 | 39% |
| Chain Optometry Clinic | 20 | 27% |
| Optician Shop | 17 | 23% |
| Ophthalmology Office | 3 | 4% |
| Other | 5 | 7% |
51% of opticians participate in Medicaid and 74% participate in Medicare.
| Years Licensed in VT | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | 11 | 15% |
| 6 to 10 years | 17 | 23% |
| 11 to 15 years | 7 | 10% |
| 16 to 20 years | 11 | 15% |
| 21 to 25 years | 12 | 16% |
| Over 25 years | 15 | 21% |
Missing data for 1 individual.
For more information, contact: AHS.VDHPhysicianCensus@vermont.gov
The Vermont Department of Health recognizes the many social, economic and environmental inequities which drive the data in this report. We are working to incorporate data reflective of these lived experiences among all Vermonters.
A optician who reported working in Vermont as a optician (regardless of how many hours) is considered active.
The census was taken during the biennial relicensing process which ended on July 31, 2024. The data include all licensed opticians except for new licensees enrolled less than three months before the renewal date (April – June 2024), as their license was valid until the next renewal date of July 31, 2026. Copy of census questions is available upon request.
Full time is defined as 40 or more working hours in Vermont per week, 48 weeks or more per year. Reporting more than 40 hours per week is defined as one FTE regardless of the number of hours over 40 per week worked.
Accuracy of setting data is difficult to interpret since many opticians employed at the same location chose different settings to describe the same work location.
The main practice, site, setting, or specialty refer to the practice in which the opticians worked the greatest number of annual hours.
For county maps, colors define quartiles. The lowest 25% of FTE equivalents to population ratio is displayed in the lightest color, the middle 50% in medium, and highest 25% in the darkest color.
Unless otherwise noted, missing data are excluded from percentages and tables. Therefore, totals may vary from table to table. Starting in May 2025, missing data and those who preferred not to answer for gender, race, and ethnicity are excluded from the denominator, which may affect comparisons with prior reports where missing data were included.
Population estimates are for July 2023 and were provided by the Department of Health.
The way the race and ethnicity questions have been asked has changed over time. In this survey, participants were asked how they classify their race and ethnicity from a list of options, which included: Abenaki or other Native American or Alaska Native identity; Asian or Asian American; Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino, Latina, or Latinx; Middle Eastern or North African; Native Hawaiian or another Pacific Islander; White or European American; prefer not to answer; and an additional race or ethnicity (with space to write-in). In the previous survey, race and ethnicity were addressed as separate questions. Participants could classify their race by selecting from options such as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White, Other (with space to specify), or Prefer not to answer. Additionally, they were asked if they were Hispanic, Latino/a, or of Spanish origin, with options to respond Yes, No, or Prefer not to answer.
States are grouped into the following regions:
| Northeast | Midwest | South | West | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Illinois | Alabama | North Carolina | Alaska |
| Maine | Indiana | Arkansas | Oklahoma | Arizona |
| Massachusetts | Iowa | Delaware | South Carolina | California |
| New Hampshire | Kansas | Florida | Tennessee | Colorado |
| New Jersey | Michigan | Georgia | Texas | Hawaii |
| New York | Minnesota | Kentucky | Virginia | Idaho |
| Pennsylvania | Missouri | Louisiana | Washington DC | Montana |
| Rhode Island | Nebraska | Maryland | West Virginia | Nevada |
| Vermont | North Dakota | Mississippi | New Mexico | |
| Ohio | Oregon | |||
| South Dakota | Utah | |||
| Wisconsin | Washington | |||
| Wyoming |
Average weekly hours is based on hours and weeks reported, adjusted to a full-time 48-week working year (hours * (weeks/48)). Thus, the average weekly hours for an individual working 40 hours a week for half the year (24 weeks) is 20.