Licensing panel allows applicant Badi to sit for optician exam after credential review

At a meeting, a licensing panel voted to allow an applicant who identified his preferred name as Badi to sit for the upcoming optician examination after reviewing his out-of-state and international credentials.

The panel began by confirming a quorum before taking up the application. Chair Jenny Revard opened the review and asked questions about the applicant’s licensure history and national exams. The applicant said he had passed the national NCLE exams and that Massachusetts issued his license around March 30–April 1 of this year after a delay tied to an SSN and green card application: "they were holding that till I get my SSN number," he said.

Panel members asked whether his training at Georgian College had been evaluated. The applicant said World Education Services (WES) reviewed his coursework and that Massachusetts accepted the equivalency before issuing his license. A member noted that the local Commission on Accreditation has not accredited Canadian programs in the past and that the panel was treating this as a precedent-setting review; another member reported checking the National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR), saying NACOR’s exam content and timing align closely with local in-person exams and that NACOR updated its requirements effective March 1, 2025.

The applicant described his practical experience: he has worked in independent optical settings and for about 11–12 years at Costco Optical and said he has stayed current with continuing-education requirements. He noted differences in continuing-education schedules, saying Ontario requires about 16 courses per year while local requirements are eight every three years.

After questioning, a panel member moved to allow the applicant to take the upcoming exam; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The panel welcomed him and said they looked forward to seeing him in a few weeks. The meeting then moved to adjournment.

The transcript does not specify the official name of the licensing body or the exact vote tally by named members; minutes and the panel’s final vote were recorded by voice as "all in favor."