Q: How do I cancel my membership?
A: Go to: My Page | Order History | View. There you should see an option to cancel. Once you’ve canceled, you will still have access and your account status will read “pending cancelation” until your next billing date, at which point it will switch to “cancelled.”
Please do not email us requesting a cancellation. While we will try to accommodate your request, your email may get lost, labeled as spam, or otherwise buried in a sea of other email. If you cannot cancel it yourself, open a ticket so it can be tracked and not missed. Thanks!
Q: What does a membership status “pending cancellation” mean?
A: It means you have successfully canceled your membership and it will not renew at your next renewal date. You will continue to have your course access until that time.
Q: If I cancel my membership before the renewal date, will I continue to have access until that time?
A: Yes. You can cancel your membership at any time. Upon cancellation, your membership status will change to “pending cancellation.” You will continue to have access until your next renewal date.
Q: How do I change my payment information?
A: You can go to: My Page | Order History | View
Q: How long will it take me to complete the program?
A: That will depend on you. For someone with no contact lens experience it would take about 150 hours (3.75 weeks of full time work) to complete the entire course. That includes time to work with a contact lens mentor of some kind, read/review other contact lens materials and get some hands-on experience. New material is constantly being added, so this will change over time.
Let’s say you put in an honest 5 hours each week. 150 hours /5 hours a week = 30 or 30 weeks which equals 7.5 months.
However, most people take about a full year to complete it and that is a very realistic expectation and a great goal for you.
Q: What about these NCLE prep tests I hear about?
A: We have a bank of about 300 NCLE exam prep questions which may be used to prepare for the NCLE basic written or other exams. You have the option of 50 question untimed quizzes and a 100 question timed one. Quizzes and the exam can be taken as often as you like.
Q: Is OptiGal’s Contact Lens & NCLE Prep Course just an NCLE prep site?
A: NO! Absolutely not. It is a complete, c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e training program. If you complete the entire program you will know more and be far better prepared to take on the day-to-day working life in contact lenses than any NCLE “certified” person will. The NCLE is a minimal competency, written, multiple choice exam with a low passing score. And that doesn’t make for very good contact lens specialists.
Q: Do you offer financing or a payment plan?
A: Yes! Only $19.99 a month! 🙂
Q: What is the total cost for the entire program?
A: $19.99 a month! Or even better $199.00 a year. That’s it!
Q: Do you offer discounts for groups or optical office staff training?
A: $199.00 a year per person. That’s it! Memberships are based on individual email addresses. Each unique address provides individual progress tracking, quiz scores, achievements and certificates.
Q: Why should I listen to what Carrie has to say?
A: Carrie Wilson, NCLEM, MA, MBA, is a Contact Lens Examiner Master, owns Optigal Consulting, and is a trainer with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She loves to break down complex topics, such as contact lens fitting, and configure them into easy-to-understand ways. She is a professor of ophthalmic science at the College of Southern Nevada, where she teaches courses on the basics of contact lens fitting. She is also a nationally recognized lecturer and author on eyeglasses and contact lens technology and a member of the ANSI committee for contact lens standards. Previously, Carrie was on the Board of Directors for the Contact Lens Society of America, a member of the committee that wrote the certification exams for contact lenses, and an author for contact lens publications such as Eyewitness.
Q: Do I get a certificate for completing the program?
A: Yes! You get a certificate of achievement for each course you complete and a final certificate upon completing the entire program.* You must REQUEST the final certificate of completion which will be mailed to you (in the US) and it is suitable for framing for your office.
If you rush through the program in 30 days or less don’t expect a final Certificate of Completion without a reference from an active mentor or employer providing proof that skills have been mastered.
* Providing you with a certificate that said Certified Contact Lens Specialist would be deceitful and show poor stewardship of the profession.
Q: Will I be a Certified Contact Lens Specialist when I complete the program?
A: No. You can get a certificate that says you have completed the program. Without a practical exam no agency should ever certify you as a contact lens specialist.
Q: What about those for-profit college programs I see for thousands of dollars?
A: For-profit college contact lens programs are a scam. You will literally spend thousands of dollars for far less than you will get with OptiGal’s program for $199.00.
Q: What other books and materials will I need?
A: We recommend XXXXXXXXXX.
Q: Who do I contact if I need technical support?
A: If you are having technical issues, please go to our support page and open a support ticket. We will respond as quickly as possible (often within a few hours). Please, do not call the lab. They do not have access to the OpticianWorks membership platform. For everything else EMAIL, NO SUPPORT TICKETS, NO FACEBOOK MESSENGER
Q: What about international payments and memberships?
A: If your credit card works for international payments we will accept it. If you understand enough English for the program to help you, go for it! We are no longer mailing international certificates of completion. International certificates of completion will be emailed.
Q: What software and hardware requirements are there?
A: The program is best completed on a high-speed, internet-connected, desktop or laptop computer. There are no other special requirements. Smaller mobile devices can be used but, many of the illustrations, images and videos may be hard to discern on a small screen.
Q: Is OptiGal’s Contact Lens & NCLE Prep Course accredited?
A: No. Only not-for-profit college degree programs are accredited. Unless a school can offer real college credits that can be used to earn a recognized college degree, accreditation is meaningless. PLEASE! Other training programs offered through online non-accredited “colleges” are a costly scam.
Q: What is the difference between Laramy-K Optical and Laramy-K OpticianWorks and OptiGal’s Contact Lens & NCLE Prep Course?
A: Laramy-K Optical is and independent optical lab that specializes in uncut freeform lenses, AR coatings, and doing the kind of work other lab can’t or won’t do. Laramy-K Optical has partnered with IOT to produce lens designs that give a real independent alternative to Big Optical labs. Laramy-K Optical believes so strongly improving independent optical through education that they invested heavily in developing and maintaining the online education program known as Laramy-K OpticianWorks, delivering free weekly educational videos via Facebook and YouTube.
OptiGal’s Contact Lens & NCLE Prep Course is an additional educational resource offered by Laramy-K OpticianWorks. John Seegers is our trainer for opticians while Carrie Wilson is our trainer for contact lenses.
Q: Do I earn credits for the program?
A: No. Only college degree courses earn credits which work towards earning a final degree like a Associates of Applied Science Degree (AAS) or Bachelor’s of Science Degree (BS).
Q: How does OptiGal’s Contact Lens & NCLE Prep Course compare to other programs?
A: We are so confident that our program is better than anything else you will find we offer a 100% money back guarantee. [Try it for 30 days and if you are not happy we will refund your $19.99/$199.00] Go ahead, we encourage you to try to find another site that offers so much.
Q: Can I earn NCLE CEs or other continuing education credits for taking the course?
A: No not at this time.
Q: How often is the site updated?
A: Almost daily. The site is under constant review and material is updated often. Many of the core concepts never change but we often update illustrations, images, videos and examples.
Q: Can I call you?
A: Sometimes yes. However, 99.9999% of communication is by email or support tickets.
Q: Do you offer any extra help if I need it?
A: Yes. Carrie will do her best to work one-on-one with individuals that are struggling with a specific concept.
Q: What do I do if something is not working?
A: Please, go to our support page and open a ticket. We will respond as quickly as possible, often within a few hours.
Q: Is this the last question in the FAQ?
A: Yes it is.