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How to become an Optical Laboratory Technician: Career Guide

See how to become an Optical Technician (also known as an Optical Laboratory Technician) with our career guide. You don't need a degree and you can do Optical Retail Apprenticeships to get started.

Did you know?

An optical technician is trained and qualified to make or ‘glaze’ spectacles. They work in an optical lab which may be attached to an optician’s practice or take orders from a number of practices.

What is an optical technician?

An optical technician is responsible for producing finished spectacles to a high degree of accuracy and quality assurance. Most of the work is done using computer-controlled machinery. Cutting the lens to the correct shape for each frame is known as glazing. You may need to also repair spectacles.

Careers in Eyecare brings together organisations from across the world of optics and beyond, to tell you about careers in eye care and eye wear.

What do you get from this role?

Becoming an optical technician gives you the chance to do something that makes a difference to many people each day, creating the spectacles they need to see clearly. You will get to work with high tech equipment. You can take qualifications while you work, and have the opportunity to progress to a supervisory role, or train to become a dispensing optician. You could also progress within industry to become a manager.

What do you need to apply?

If you are interested in becoming an optical technician, you need to apply for a position in an optical lab that offers on the job training. You should have 9-4/A*-C GCSE in both English and maths or equivalent.

What skills do you need?

In order to become an optical technician you will need to enjoy the technical side and be willing to learn. You will be taught about the principles behind the manufacture of spectacles and how to handle lenses, frames and machinery. You will need to be organised to take in new stock, make up and dispatch orders on time. You will need to be friendly and helpful as you may need to talk to optical professionals who have requested the spectacles.

Behaviours: You should follow policies and procedures, have a strong attention to detail and apply quality assurance checks through the spectacle repair or manufacturing process.

Quality focus: You should have a strong professional work ethic including pride in your work and attention to detail.

Professionalism: You should plan and manage time effectively.

Self-development: You should obtain and offer constructive feedback to others, and develop and maintain professional replationships.

Safety orientated: You should be aware of and adopt the processes and procedures for the safe manufacturing or repair of spectacles for both self and others.

What does your working day look like?

An optical technician’s day might start by prioritising the list of orders to work on for that day and checking that you have the lenses in stock that you need. During the day you will put lenses into the machine that cuts the lenses to the right shape, insert the lenses into the frames, and package them for the customer. You will also be responsible for ordering in of new stock lenses and also ordering in more specialised lenses to fulfil orders. Basic maintenance and upkeep of equipment is also the responsibility of the lab technician.

How does the optical technician training programme work?

You can become an optical technician while you work and there is an option to do this through an apprenticeship. This gives you on-the-job training and structured study so you can gain a nationally recognised qualification. It takes around two years as an apprentice to become a qualified Optical Technician.

You can then go on to take further qualifications through online learning.

Find out more

Useful organisations and links

Careers in eyecare - FAQs

I’ve been to the optician’s and it looks like it might be an interesting place to work. What are my options?

There are a number of people who work in an optical practice:

the optometrist
the dispensing optician
optical assistants (often more than one)or receptionists.

In some practices you will also find a laboratory where optical technicians make spectacles.

Click the links to find out more about these eyecare careers and how you can get into them!

When I go to the optician’s I’m never quite sure who does what. Can you explain?

There are a number of people who work in an optical practice!

The first person you will meet is likely to be the receptionist who can book your appointment.

You may also meet an optical assistant in the front of the practice. They can assist you to choose frames and lenses and some (as can an optical sales representative). They may also be trained to carry out initial assessments before your eye test.

The optometrist is the person who examines your eyes. They will then pass you on to the dispensing optician who is trained and qualified to offer the best advice on frames and lenses to suit your lifestyle and prescription.

In some practices you will also find a laboratory where optical technicians make spectacles. When you return to collect your new specs they may be fitted by the dispensing optician or an optical assistant.

If any of these eyecare careers sound like something you might be interested in, click the links to find out more.

What does a dispensing optician do?

A dispensing optician (DO) advises on, fits and supplies the most appropriate spectacles after taking account of each patient’s visual, lifestyle and vocational needs.

Dispensing opticians also play an important role in advising and dispensing low vision aids to those who are partially sighted as well as advising on and dispensing to children where appropriate.

They are also able to fit and provide aftercare for contact lenses after undergoing further specialist training.

Career opportunities also exist to develop business skills in marketing and practice management.

See how to become a dispensing optician!

Dispensing Optician Career Guide

What is a contact lens optician? How do I become one?

What is a contact lens optician?

A contact lens optician (CLO) is a specialist practitioner who is trained and qualified to fit, and provide aftercare for, patients with contact lenses. Contact lens opticians assess whether contact lenses meet the needs of the person, resolving clinical and tolerance issues, and remain responsible for clinical decisions enabling them to provide continuity of care.

The contact lens speciality is open to dispensing opticians only and involves extra study and clinical practice. Once the specialist training is completed and competence assessed, practitioners must register their speciality with the General Optical Council. They are then able to perform additional duties to those of a dispensing optician.

How do I become a contact lens optician?

Once you have qualified as a dispensing optician you can go on to study and specialise in fitting contact lenses to help you become a contact lens optician.

This course is delivered by a method called ‘blended learning’ that consists of practice based learning, block release and distance learning coursework. You receive coursework material to work through and assignment questions to answer for each part of the course. A personal tutor will mark it for you and return it to you with feedback. As the course is at advanced level, you will also need to undertake some additional research and read around the subject in order to gain a thorough understanding of the subject.

While you are studying for your CL Cert you will be training in contact lens practice. You and your supervisor will be issued with a workbook to guide you both through this part of your training. You will learn practical skills from your supervisor and work with patients in practice (under supervision) to perfect these skills. To become a contact lens optician, you will also need to complete a set number of case records that you build up over a one-year period and makes up a part of your final examinations.

The approved training course for the contact lens speciality is run by ABDO College and Bradford College.

See how to become a contact lens optician!

Contact Lens Optician Careers

What is a low vision optician?

A low vision optician is a dispensing optician who has additional qualifications to support people who are blind or partially sighted, offering advice, assessment and relevant equipment to allow them to make the most of the sight that they have.

Low vision courses are offeed by ABDO College and WOPEC.

See how to become a low vision optician with our career guide.

Low vision optician careers

What does an optical assistant do? How can I train to become an optical assistant?

What does an optical assistant do?

An optical assistant works under supervision in an optical practice to assist people with choosing frames and lenses. Some optical assistants also have training to allow them to carry out initial assessments before an eye examination such as autorefraction.

How do I train to become an optical assistant?

If you are interested in becoming an optical assistant, you need to apply for a position in an optical practice that offers on the job training. As you work you will be given the chance to study for a optical assistant qualification via ABDO College.

See how to become an optical assistant.

Optical assistant careers guide

How do I train to become an optical technician and what do they do?

What does an optical technician do?

An optical technician is trained and qualified to make or ‘glaze’ spectacles. They work in an optical lab which may be attached to an optician’s practice. They may also progress within industry to become senior management in optical manufacturing organisations.

How do I train to become an optical technician?

If you are interested in becoming an optical technician, you need to apply for a position in an optical lab that offers on the job training. As you work you may be given the chance to study for a qualification or complete an apprenticeship.

Optical technician careers

How do I train to become an optometrist?

Optometrists study a three or four-year degree course at a university. There are ten universities that currently offer training in Optometry.

After completing the degree, trainee optometrists need to go on to complete a pre-registration year where they practice under supervision of a qualified optometrist, write up case records and take further practical exams.

All optometrists need to be registered with the General Optical Council.

See how to become an optometrist with our career guide.

Optometrist careers

Tell me about opthalmology careers!

The eye and visual system can be affected by a range of clinical conditions. Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system. There are a number of professions associated with this area of work. For example, you could train to become an opthalmologist, ophthalmic nurse, or orthoptist.

What is an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a trained doctor who specialises in eyes.

What is an ophthalmic nurse?

An ophthalmic nurse has qualified as a nurse before going on to specialise in eyes. You will find them in a hospital eye clinic, providing care for people with eye diseases.

What is an orthoptist?

An orthoptist specialises in investigating, diagnosing and treating defects of binocular vision and abnormalities of eye movement. You will find most orthoptists working in a hospital setting, helping children who have squint or lazy eye (amblyopia).

Click the links to find out more and explore possible routes into these careers.

What is an eye clinic liaison officer?

An eye clinic liaison officer (ECLO) is based in an eye clinic. They are there to talk to people who may be newly diagnosed with sight loss, and to help them get emotional and practical support from local voluntary organisations, health and social care. Eye clinic liasion officers can help you understand more about your eye condition.

ECLO career guide

Can you give me tips to help my journey into work?

You have lots of options when it comes to exploring a career in eyecare after school. You don't always need a degree - you can take your next steps through alternative routes, from traineeships to apprenticeships and beyond. These tips can help you get started -

Tips for school leavers

Results day tips - what next if you didn't get the grades for university?

How to get a job in retail

Job application tips - DOs and DON'Ts

How to prep for job interviews - example interview questions

Tips on using traineeships to build skills and experience

Tips for successful online learning

Tips for successful Optical Assistant apprenticeships