EDUCATION Employers generally hire individuals with no background in opticianry or those who have worked as ophthalmic laboratory technicians and them provide the required training.Training may be informal.on-the-job,or formal apprenticeship.Some employers,however,seek people with post-secondary traiming in optielanry. Large employers cenerally offer structured apprenticeship programs,and small employers provide nore informal on-the-job training.In the 21 States that licemse dispensing opticians.individuals without post-secondary training work from 2 to 4 years as apprentices.Apprenticeship or formal training is offered in most of the other States as well.Apprentices receive technical training and learn office management and sales.Under the supervision of am experienced optician,optometrist, or ophthalmologist,apprentices work directly with patients,fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses.In States requiring licensure,informtion about apprenticeships and licensing procedures is available from the State board of occupatioeal licensing. Formal opticianry training is offered in community colleges and a few colleges and universities.In 1997,there were 23 programs accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation that awarded 2-year associate degrees in ophthalmic dispensing or optonetrie technology.There are also shorter prograns,ineluding some under I year.Sone States that license dispensing opticians allow graduates to take the licemsure exam immediately upon graduation:others require a few months to a year of experience. Dispensing opticians may apply to the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lems Examiners for certification of their skills.Certification must be reneved every 3 years through continuing education. Dispensing opticians also need to know about: the eye and the way it works
EDUCATION Employers generally hire individuals with no background in opticianry or those who have worked as ophthalmic laboratory technicians and then provide the required training. Training may be informal, on-the-job, or formal apprenticeship. Some employers, however, seek people with post-secondary training in opticianry. Large employers generally offer structured apprenticeship programs, and small employers provide more informal on-the-job training. In the 21 States that license dispensing opticians, individuals without post-secondary training work from 2 to 4 years as apprentices. Apprenticeship or formal training is offered in most of the other States as well. Apprentices receive technical training and learn office management and sales. Under the supervision of an experienced optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist, apprentices work directly with patients, fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses. In States requiring licensure, information about apprenticeships and licensing procedures is available from the State board of occupational licensing. Formal opticianry training is offered in community colleges and a few colleges and universities. In 1997, there were 23 programs accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation that awarded 2-year associate degrees in ophthalmic dispensing or optometric technology. There are also shorter programs, including some under 1 year. Some States that license dispensing opticians allow graduates to take the licensure exam immediately upon graduation; others require a few months to a year of experience. Dispensing opticians may apply to the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners for certification of their skills. Certification must be renewed every 3 years through continuing education. Dispensing opticians also need to know about: the eye and the way it works
how to interpret prescriptions and how to custonize them for the client optical products such as solutions for comtact lenses,glasses lenses,frames and sunglasses fashion trends for glasses frares different face shapes and what frames suit a particular shape the construction of franes.the materials used and the design characteristics business management up-to-date information about new lenses. Equipeent Some of the equipment a dispemsing optician uses includes: A Manual or auto lens meter to accurately measure all lenses for glasses Precise equipnent,such as screwdrivers and pliers,to adjust lenses and franes Grinding and edging machines to grind the lens to fit the frames A pupilometer to neasure the distance between a person's pupils. ADVANCEMENT Many experienced dispensing opticians open their own optical stores.Others becone nanagers of optical stores or sales representatives for wholesalers or manufacturers of eyeglasses or leases.Some earn advanced dexrees and become optonetrists or ophthalmologists. NATIONWIDE EARNINGS If working for somebody else,dispensing opticians usually earn between $35.000 and $70,000 per year.The salary for dispensing opticians who own their own business may vary greatly,depending on the location.the nurber of clients and the mher of hours worked.Ovners,managers and certified graduates of opticianry schools had highest earmings.as did dispensing opticians who worked in States that require licensure.In addition to base salaries,mny eaployers provide
how to interpret prescriptions and how to customize them for the client optical products such as solutions for contact lenses, glasses lenses, frames and sunglasses fashion trends for glasses frames different face shapes and what frames suit a particular shape the construction of frames, the materials used and the design characteristics business management up-to-date information about new lenses. Equipment Some of the equipment a dispensing optician uses includes: A Manual or auto lens meter to accurately measure all lenses for glasses Precise equipment, such as screwdrivers and pliers, to adjust lenses and frames Grinding and edging machines to grind the lens to fit the frames A pupilometer to measure the distance between a person's pupils. ADVANCEMENT Many experienced dispensing opticians open their own optical stores. Others become managers of optical stores or sales representatives for wholesalers or manufacturers of eyeglasses or lenses. Some earn advanced degrees and become optometrists or ophthalmologists. NATIONWIDE EARNINGS If working for somebody else, dispensing opticians usually earn between $35,000 and $70,000 per year. The salary for dispensing opticians who own their own business may vary greatly, depending on the location, the number of clients and the number of hours worked. Owners, managers and certified graduates of opticianry schools had highest earnings, as did dispensing opticians who worked in States that require licensure. In addition to base salaries, many employers provide
commissions,bonuses.and profit-sharing. NATIONWIDE JOB OUTLOCK The following informtion is from the California Projections of Employrent published by the Labor Market Information Division. Estinated nurber of workers in 1993 6,950 Estimated nunber of workers in 2005 8,440 Projected Growth 1993-2005 21% Estinated openings due to separations by 2005 2.150 (These figures do not include self-employent or opemings due to turnover. This occupation is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations in Califormia.The existing supply of qualified workers generally meets the demand of qualified workers.Still,employers reported some difficulty recruiting qualified Dispensing Opticians in more rural area. Dispensing opticians held about 67.000 jobs in 1996.About half work for ophthalmologists or optometrists who sell glasses directly to patients.Many also work in retail optical stores that offer one-stop shopping.Custoners may have their eyes examined,choose franes and have glasses mde on the spot.Some work in optical departments of drug and department stores. Registered Spectacle Lens Dispensers RSLD's use their knowledge of optics and mathematics to fill prescriptions written by doctors and determine the eyeglass frame and lens combination that best fits the custoner's vision needs.They help select the right material and
commissions, bonuses, and profit-sharing. NATIONWIDE JOB OUTLOOK The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. Estimated number of workers in 1993 6,950 Estimated number of workers in 2005 8,440 Projected Growth 1993-2005 21% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 2,150 (These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.) This occupation is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations in California. The existing supply of qualified workers generally meets the demand of qualified workers. Still, employers reported some difficulty recruiting qualified Dispensing Opticians in more rural area. Dispensing opticians held about 67,000 jobs in 1996. About half work for ophthalmologists or optometrists who sell glasses directly to patients. Many also work in retail optical stores that offer one-stop shopping. Customers may have their eyes examined, choose frames and have glasses made on the spot. Some work in optical departments of drug and department stores. Registered Spectacle Lens Dispensers ( RSLD's use their knowledge of optics and mathematics to fill prescriptions written by doctors and determine the eyeglass frame and lens combination that best fits the customer's vision needs. They help select the right material and
lens design to fit the customer's life style and facial measurements,and then prepare a work order for the laboratory.When the finished glasses are returned from the laboratory, RSIDs use optical tools and gauges to make sure that the glasses mtch the work order.Opticians adjust glasses to fit their custorers coafortably. Some Dispensing Opticlans also grind and polish the lenses and mount them into franes. In California there must he one RSLD in each dispensary that fills preseriptions that is not under the licease of an Optoretrist or Ophthalmologist.There can be count less opticians working under the RSLD's license,but the RSLD is responsible for every Rx that gets dispensed under his or her licemse.This is to insure that all R's dispensed under the RSLD's licemse are fabricated to ANSI standards or better. NATIONWIDE JOB OUTLOCK The following information is fron the California Projections of Erploynent published by the Labor Market Information Division. Estinated nurber of workers in 1993 6.950 Estimated nunber of workers in 2005 8.440 Projected Growth 1993-2005 218 Estirated openings due to separations by 2005 2.150 (These figures do not include self-erployment or opemings due to turnover.) This occupation is expected to grow ahout as fast as average for all occupations in
lens design to fit the customer's life style and facial measurements, and then prepare a work order for the laboratory. When the finished glasses are returned from the laboratory, RSLDs use optical tools and gauges to make sure that the glasses match the work order. Opticians adjust glasses to fit their customers comfortably. Some Dispensing Opticians also grind and polish the lenses and mount them into frames. In California there must be one RSLD in each dispensary that fills prescriptions that is not under the license of an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. There can be countless opticians working under the RSLD's license, but the RSLD is responsible for every Rx that gets dispensed under his or her license. This is to insure that all RX's dispensed under the RSLD's license are fabricated to ANSI standards or better. NATIONWIDE JOB OUTLOOK The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. Estimated number of workers in 1993 6,950 Estimated number of workers in 2005 8,440 Projected Growth 1993-2005 21% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 2,150 (These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.) This occupation is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations in
Califormia.The existing supply of qual ified workers generally neets the demand of qualified workers.Still,employers reported some difficulty recruiting qualified Dispensing Opticians in more rural area. Dispensing opticians held about 67.000 jobs in 1996.Ahout half work for ophthalmologists or optometrists who sell glasses directly to patients.Many also work in retail optical stores that offer one-stop shopping.Customers may have their eyes exanined,choose franes and have glasses made on the spot.Sone work in optical departments of drug and departnent stores
California. The existing supply of qualified workers generally meets the demand of qualified workers. Still, employers reported some difficulty recruiting qualified Dispensing Opticians in more rural area. Dispensing opticians held about 67,000 jobs in 1996. About half work for ophthalmologists or optometrists who sell glasses directly to patients. Many also work in retail optical stores that offer one-stop shopping. Customers may have their eyes examined, choose frames and have glasses made on the spot. Some work in optical departments of drug and department stores