Walmart expanded career training for associates with a new Associate to Optician pilot program that combines online coursework with in-person clinical training. The pilot is being offered in Connecticut, North Carolina and South Carolina and 30 associates are currently enrolled.
The program gives eligible associates, without optical experience, a path to become opticians at no cost. Through Walmart’s Live Better U education benefit, associates who do not currently work in Vision or Optical Centers can earn an associate degree in optical science from Reynolds Community College.
The Associate to Optician pilot program can save associates more than $20,000 in tuition and fees and help them prepare for licensure. Licensed opticians at Walmart and Sam’s Club have an average starting wage of about $33.75 an hour, depending on state licensing requirements.
The Associate to Optician pilot program is part of a broader effort to expand internal career pathways. Walmart said it is investing in training and advancement opportunities to help associates move into higher-skilled jobs and build long-term careers.
The new pilot program is separate from Walmart’s existing apprenticeship model, which is open to associates already working in a Vision or Optical Center. The apprenticeship model lets them pursue an associate degree in opticianry through Live Better U while staying in their current jobs.
