These national standards are intended to serve as a guide for the establishment of thorough and complete apprenticeship programs to produce trained optical technicians (contact lens technicians). Covered in the individual sections are the following topics: definitions, qualifications for apprenticeship, credit for previous experience, continuity of employment, apprenticeship agreements, terms of apprenticeship, probationary periods, ratio, responsibilities of apprentices, supervisors, progress evaluation, hours of employment, related technical instruction, certificates of completion, modification of policy, the recommended minimum apprentice wage scale, safety, training and educational objectives, supplemental educational courses, work experience schedules, and related instruction. (MN)