Optician

Duties and Responsibilities: Dispensing opticians help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologist and optometrists. They also help customers decide which eyeglass frames or contact lenses to buy. Opticians typically do the following: Receive customers’ prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses, measure customers’ eyes, such as the distance between their pupils, help customers choose eyeglass frames and lens treatments, such as eye-wear for occupational use or sports, tints or anti-reflective coatings, based on their vision needs style preferences, create work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, providing information about the lenses needed, adjust eye-wear to ensure fit, repair or replace broken eyeglass frames and perform business tasks, such as maintain sales records, keeping track of customers’ prescriptions, and ordering and maintain inventory.

Salary: $21,030-$52,740

Education: Opticians typically have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn job skills through on-the-job training. Training includes technical instruction in which, for example, a new optician measures a customer’s eyes or adjusts frames under the supervision of an experienced optician. Trainees also learn sales and office management practices. Some opticians complete an apprenticeship, which typically takes at least 2 years. About half of the states require opticians to be licensed. Licensure usually requires completing formal education through an approved program or completing an apprenticeship. In addition, opticians must pass one or more exams to be licensed. The optician licensing board in each state can supply information on licensing requirements.

Reflection: I would become this because I have glasses and I would like to help other people who also need glasses.