Curious about a career that allows you to combine fashion with technology? Enter the role of an optical technician. Also known as ophthalmic lab technicians and opticians, these professionals help customers find eye care solutions tailored to their needs and taste.
Eye health is something that’s too often overlooked until it becomes a significant issue. Eye care professionals can help interrupt that cycle, making a meaningful impact in people’s lives by providing compassionate care that can enhance vision and boost confidence.
Listed below are a couple more factors that can help explain the need for optical technicians:
- Lenses and Eyeglasses: Today’s optical technicians are responsible for fitting patients with eyeglasses and content lenses. They are also expected to provide advice and information pertaining to prescription drugs. This has created a need to hire qualified optical technicians across offices and clinics.
- Fashion: New fashion trends also dictate the demand for designer frames and contact lenses. This can also provide new opportunities for qualified optical technicians.
What does an optical technician do?
Optical technicians typically work in optical facilities, optometrist/ophthalmologist offices, or retail enterprises that deal in eyewear. Optician responsibilities include:
- Fill prescriptions from optometrists and ophthalmologists
- Conduct basic eye examinations
- Take customers’ eye measurements
- Assist customers in choosing eyeglasses and frames
- Help eye patients decide which lens types are apt for them
- Keep customer prescriptions and records up to date
- Track sales and manage the in-store inventory
- Repair broken or damaged glasses and frames
- Educate patients, customers, and store visitors about eye health and eyewear
While this position is often conflated with other eye care roles such as optometrist or ophthalmologist, it’s quite distinct and requires different training and education. Check out our post on Optician vs. Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist for a deeper understanding of the differences.
Entry-level positions in the optical field encompass optical technicians, optical lab technicians, and contact lens fitters. These jobs require a mix of clinical skills, manual dexterity, customer service skills, salesmanship, and communication skills. Familiarity with data entry software and point of sale (POS) devices is a bonus.
Becoming an Optical Technician
The prerequisites for becoming an optical technician consist of formal education and practical training. If you are considering a career in optical technology, an optical technician program is a good place to start. ACC offers an optical tech diploma program that can be completed in as little as 9 months.
Review our career guide for an overview of how to become an optical technician in California.
Here are a few things you should look for in an optical technician training program:
- Placement rate – Review the institute’s placement rate before you enroll in their program. Some colleges offer placement assistance to students on the successful completion of their course.
- Curriculum – Ensure that the course curriculum is up to date according to the latest industry trends and practices.
- Practical training – Apart from theoretical knowledge, it is also important the institute provides you with practical exposure and hands-on experience. This will better prepare you for entry into the field.
- Real-world experience – Practical training should also extend beyond the institution. A program with an externship component helps you strengthen your knowledge and skills in a real optical environment.
- Faculty – Being surrounded by experienced faculty means you have a wealth of knowledgeable individuals at your disposal who can provide guidance and answer important questions.
Optical Tech Training at ACC
American Career College offers a blended Optical Technician program (combining online coursework with in-person instruction) to help you prepare for the National Opticianry Competency Exam and Contact Lens Registry Exam (administered by the ABO/NCLE). This is an essential step to becoming a board-certified optician and/or contact lens technician.
Here are some of the key components of ACC’s optical tech curriculum:
- Light and Single Vision
- Multifocal
- Optical Products: Frames and Lenses
- Soft Contact Lenses
- Rigid Contact Lenses
- Anatomy / Physiology / Prisms
- Optical Office Procedures
- Dispensing Optician Externship
The Optical Technician program culminates in a 200-hour externship where students can demonstrate and reinforce their knowledge through real-world experience. The program is available at American Career College’s conveniently located Los Angeles and Ontario campuses.
Begin your journey to becoming an optical technician today! Contact us to learn more about how ACC can help you advance your education with confidence.
