Provision for the training and registration of opticians is contained in the Opticians Act 1928 and regulations thereunder. The Opticians Board consists of three registered opticians, a medical practitioner, and the Director-General of Health, or his representative, as chairman, and the Board conducts the qualifying examinations, controls registration, and exercises any necessary disciplinary action.

The course of training for an optician extends over four years. The first year is taken at any New Zealand university studying Chemistry I, Zoology I, and Physics I. The following two years are taken at the University of Auckland studying Optometry I and II and Psychology I and II. When the student has completed this course he is awarded a Diploma in Optometry. However, before he may be registered he is required to spend a further year gaining clinical and practical experience, following which he sits the Opticians' Board examination.

The Optometrical Association of New Zealand watches over the general interests of opticians, and aims to encourage a high standard of ethical practice, and to promote educational facilities for students of optometry.