See your future in Opticianry
An education and training with real vision.
Franklin Cummings Tech is the only college in Massachusetts to offer degree programs in Opticianry. In Massachusetts, a state which is a national leader in healthcare and technology, optician salaries are among the highest in the country.
- There are projected to be 6,800 openings for opticians each year over the next decade, according to the US Bureau of Labor. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
- Median salary for opticians in MA is 37% higher than the median salary for opticians nationwide ($63,810 in MA, compared to $46,560 nationally)
Give us a few months, we’ll give you a career.
SATs and ACTs are not required to apply.
Our Paid Co-op Model
Franklin Cummings Tech offers a year-long co-op and registered apprenticeship. Students in associate degree programs work for pay in their field of study, providing a path to better careers and higher salaries. It doesn’t have to be a choice between work or school. It can be both.
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The Franklin Cummings Tech Difference
We empower you to achieve your career goals and attain economic advancement through accessible, flexible, and hands-on technical and trade education. From the application process through job placement and beyond, we’re here to help you discover what you’re capable of and help you overcome any barrier you might encounter.
Students Receiving
Financial Aid to Help Pay for
Tuition, Books and Tools
Job Placement Rate (full-
time, in field of choice or
continuing education)
First Gen College Students
A career path with an eye toward the future.
You’ll get hands-on training as you learn how to design, fit, and dispense glasses and contact lenses as well as operate all forms of ophthalmic tools and instruments. Our instructors are industry leaders who will prepare you for the licensing exam and a rewarding career helping people enjoy better eye health.
See what program works best for you.
We work closely with industry partners to ensure our programs are designed to prepare you for a high-demand career. Click on the career you’re interested in to meet your path to job success.
Success Stories
Maria Victoria Davila Martinis
Cybersecurity ’26
Originally from Venezuela, Victoria and her family immigrated to the United States in pursuit of a better life. While she had taken coding classes, she didn’t see herself initially as a technical person, but her teachers at El Centro saw something in her and thought she’d thrive in the field of cybersecurity. It has been a wonderful fit, and she said, “I ended up loving it.” She credits her cyber teachers for preparing her so well for the co-op interview. She could answer all their technical questions with examples from class.
This summer, Victoria works at Arbella Insurance, where she and her team identify products to protect the company from security threats, conduct research, and analyze the best solutions to security risks. She says it’s an extraordinary place to work. Arbella places high value on professional development, cross-departmental shadowing, and lasting employee relationships. She loves being on a team that is so close, where everyone has worked together for so long. “They are a family,” she shared, “and they welcomed me into their family.”
Nicholas
Automotive
Nicholas graduated from one of Boston’s rigorous charter schools and enrolled in an electrical engineering program at UMass Lowell. But he really wanted a more hands-on experience and began looking for a college that would be a better fit. He had always loved cars, and so he was ecstatic when he was accepted into the Automotive Technology associate degree program at Franklin Cummings Tech, with a concentration in Electric Vehicle Technology.
It has been an amazing experience for Nicholas. At the end of his first year, he started working as a summer co-op at Village Auto’s Boston Volvo location. He will continue working there all throughout his second year. He loves the community, both at school and at work.
Arnold
Construction Management
“They want you to become better than they are. I love that.” – Arnold
This May, Arnold began his 15-month journey as a Construction Management Apprentice for Elaine Construction. He finished his first year of construction management and will complete his degree over the next year as he does his apprenticeship.
Arnold is working for Jessica Vieira on the St. Francis House project. Jessica is originally from Brockton, MA and went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for her undergraduate degree in Building and Construction Technology. In her most recent co-op bi-weekly check in, she wrote, “It’s been great to see Arnold learn and grow in this role. He is always asking questions and taking the initiative to do tasks around the jobsite. He is an absolute pleasure to work with!”
“We believe in Arnold and the talent coming out of Franklin Cummings Tech. They are hungry to learn and prove themselves. This has been a great partnership so far,” shared Anthony Leonard, COO of Elaine Construction.
Arnold added, “Everyone here treats you like they already know you. At lunch, they invite me to eat with them. It’s a good feeling. It’s a welcoming feeling.”
Alex
HVAC/R
Alex is working at Harvard University this summer, and he is working for more than just himself. He decided to change careers and start Franklin Cummings Tech in HVAC because he wanted to provide for his family. He wanted his kids to have more than what he had when he was growing up, and that meant finding a career that would pay him well for his knowledge and hard work.
After a year of studying HVAC, Alex joined the building energy management program, which focuses on how to automate smart buildings to save on energy costs. He then joined the facilities management team at Harvard to support the buildings on its campus. He has excelled this summer at Harvard. His supervisors have noted that his ability to handle complex tasks, such as troubleshooting HVAC systems and energy automation processes, has been impressive. They have invited him to apply for a role to continue work during the school year.
Djeison
Mechatronics
What if you could design a machine that can turn aluminum into a source of clean energy? This would be a major breakthrough, as aluminum is one of the most common and least expensive metals in the world. Found Energy figured out how to do just that. This summer, they decided to scale up their machine so that it can power an entire factory. Who did they look to in order to build this machine? Djeison at Franklin Cummings Tech.
Originally from Cape Verde, Djeison is applying his mechanical, electrical, and digital skills developed at the college to help build this much larger machine. His manager Marta shared that Djeison is thriving in his role, making great strides in his work and personal development. This is a great role for Djeison to prove himself to future employers.
Joshua
Practical Electricity
Joshua Wakim attended the O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, one of Boston’s premier exam schools. But while his classmates were busy preparing for college, he wasn’t inspired by his classes and wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after graduation. He found he liked hands-on work much more than sitting in class. He considered going to a four-year college, but felt it was not going to be the right fit for him.
Then he discovered the trades. When he heard about the practical electricity (PE) program at Franklin Cummings Tech, he thought the field could combine his skill in math with his love for hands-on learning. It has been an incredible fit. He’s doing extremely well academically and has found his calling.
He is working this summer for KB Mac, the electrical subcontractor helping to build the new Franklin Cummings Tech campus in Nubian Sq. His work colleagues think it’s great that he’s working on his own school. One of his highlights is using his tools from school in his work every day. They are serving him well. “This is all so exciting,” Joshua shared. “My family is over the moon for me.”
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