BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Walmart has announced the launch of its Associate to Optician program, a new, no-cost pathway into careers in licensed vision care that provides employees working outside of its vision care centers the chance to obtain a fully sponsored associate’s degree in optical science. The earn-while-you learn pilot program helps associates save over $20,000 in education costs, according to Walmart. This initiative is powered by Walmart’s Live Better U education benefit and combines academic study with practical clinical training.
Launched as a pilot in Connecticut, North Carolina and South Carolina, the program is provided to Walmart associates for free, the company advised. According to Walmart, the company began the program in these three states because of their licensing requirements for opticians, and sees it as a way to remove financial hurdles for associates wishing to move into a career path within the healthcare profession.
“Opticians offer a perspective on style as well as a highly clinical skill set so our customers are supported to make decisions that are both personal and highly practical. As demand for vision care grows, Walmart wants to help expand the talent pool,” Sherri Keeth, vice president, optical DMM, for Walmart U.S. Health & Wellness, told VMAIL. “Through Associate to Optician, we’re giving associates a no-cost pathway into a licensed optical career while helping strengthen the talent pipeline our industry needs to continue serving patients and customers well.”
By eliminating out-of-pocket tuition, the program allows participants to avoid the educational expenses typically required for external certification, the company noted. At present, starting pay for licensed opticians at Sam’s Club and Walmart locations averages about $33.75 hourly, based on specific market conditions and local licensing mandates.
The program is separate from the company’s established apprenticeship model, where associates already working in a Walmart Vision or Sam’s Club Optical Center can enroll in a two-year associate degree in opticianry through Live Better U while continuing to stay in the job they are in today, the company clarified. The Associate to Optician program is part of a larger announcement from Walmart about expanded career pathways for associates.
“A great fact about our first Associate to Optician cohort is that it includes associates with tenure at Walmart ranging from one year to 30 years,” said Donna Morris, executive vice president and chief people officer at Walmart. “That reinforces our belief that learning is continuous, and it is always the right time to explore your next career interest.”
