Dispensing optician
Dispensing opticians supply glasses and contact lenses for customers and give advice on vision care.
- Starter salary£28,000 a year
- Experienced£40,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a dispensing optician, you could:
- help customers to choose eyewear based on an optometrist's prescription
- advise customers on frames and styles of eyewear, including safety glasses, sunglasses and screen glasses
- show people how to fit and remove contact lenses
- take facial measurements to fit glasses
- fit, adjust and repair frames
- refer customers to an optometrist for further vision tests if required
- offer advice on how to manage common eye conditions
Working environment
You could work at a store or at a health centre.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- maths knowledge
- the ability to sell products and services
- analytical thinking skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a dispensing optician
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
To qualify as a dispensing optician, you must complete a degree course approved by the General Optical Council .
You'll also need to pass the professional qualifying exams by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) .
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, including a science
Apprenticeship
You may be able to apply for a place on a Dispensing Optician Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, with a commercial optician.
This can take 3 years to complete. It's equivalent to degree level and leads to a professional qualification.
Entry requirements
To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
Work
If you're working in an optician practice, as an assistant or optical technician, you may be able to do training on the job through an apprenticeship or part-time degree course. You'll need the support of your employer to do this.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- supervise and mentor trainee opticians
- take extra training to work as a contact lens optician
- work in a hospital or teach at a university
- study to qualify as an optometrist
- move into optical sales for a lens manufacturer
- become self employed and run your own business
Career tips
You might find it helpful to get some experience in an optician before you apply to study. You can see how to find work experience from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) for professional development and training opportunities.
Registration
- you'll need to be registered with the General Optical Council
Guides for this industry
Related roles
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0