Expand mobile version menu

Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician

Program Description

Just the Facts

Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician. A program that prepares individuals to adapt and fit corrective eyewear, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, as prescribed by ophthalmologists or optometrists; to assist patients in selecting appropriate frames; and to prepare work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians. Includes instruction in geometrical optics, ophthalmic optics, anatomy of the eye, optical instrumentation, use and maintenance of adjustment and cleaning tools, prescription interpretation, contact lens adaptation and fitting, prosthesis fitting, facial and eye measuring, pathology identification, record-keeping, and patient and business administrative tasks.

This program is available in these options:

  • Certificate / Diploma
  • Associate degree

High School Courses

See the high school courses recommended for programs in this career cluster:

See the high school courses recommended for programs in this pathway:


Related Careers

Check out related careers


Additional Information

In just two years, you can finish an opticianry program and be out helping people to see the world more clearly.

Some opticianry courses are even offered via distance education, which means students can study by correspondence while working at another job. If you can get a job in an optical lab while taking the course, then you'll be getting hands-on experience while you complete the course at your own pace.

Monique Raymond is the optical program assistant at a technical college that offers opticianry by distance education. Her two-year program is a certificate course, but plans are underway to upgrade it to a diploma program.

Being a high school graduate is not a prerequisite to gaining admission into an opticianry course, but it can make it easier, especially when you're competing against other applicants for a limited number of spots.

Students should keep up with their math throughout high school, says Russell Hess. He used to help oversee the opticianry program at Ferris State University in Michigan.

Other prerequisites include good manual dexterity and all 10 fingers. Your vision must to be correctable to 20/40 vision.

Students interested in this career should have a desire to work with people in a service industry, says Hess. You can get this type of experience while in high school by working in stores or restaurants and volunteering at nursing homes.

Hess also suggests taking extracurricular courses in public speaking. Good communication skills are extremely important in this line of work.

Besides tuition, expect to pay a lot for textbooks and lab materials.


Links

Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Opticians, Dispensing

Eyes on the Road
An example of web marketing for opticians

What Does 20/20 Vision Mean?
Interesting facts about your peepers

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support