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Dispensing optician
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
£15,000 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
As a dispensing optician, you would make up prescriptions created by optometrists (ophthalmic opticians) and ophthalmologists (eye surgeons). You could also fit and supply spectacles, contact lenses and other optical appliances.
Your duties would usually include:
- using apparatus to measure clients for optical aids
- calculating distances and angles in relation to types of lens and client measurements
- providing advice and information on lens options, such as single vision or bifocal
- advising people on the style, weight and colour of frames
- fitting, adjusting and repairing frames.
It would not be part of your role to examine eyes.
You would be based in a retail setting, so marketing and selling would form an important part of your work. With further training, your duties could also include showing customers how to use and care for contact lenses.
You could work in partnership with an ophthalmic optician, and you would typically be involved in managing the business.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work five days a week, including Saturdays. Part-time hours are also often available.
You would be based in a shop or retail setting.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Dispensing opticians can earn between £15,000 and £25,000 a year.
- Specialists and managers may earn around £28,000 to £35,000.
Self-employed dispensing opticians may earn a salary much higher than this.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You must be registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) before you can work as a dispensing optician. To get on to the register you need to complete a course approved by the GOC, and pass the Professional Qualifying Examinations from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).
The GOC have approved three routes, which means you can qualify by taking one of the following:
- a two-year full-time diploma course, followed by one year working under supervision
- a three-year day release course (if you are in suitable employment)
- a three-year distance learning course, including a four-week residential block, offered by the ABDO (if you are in suitable employment).
Whichever route you take, you will have a final exam with the ABDO.
To get on to a course, you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths and science. Depending on your experience, some course providers will also want you to have two or three A levels, including biology, physics or maths. It is important to check with institutions for exact entry details.
The General Optical Council has a list of approved institutions.
As a student you must join the student register of the GOC before you carry out any clinical work.
If you qualified in another area of the EU or EEA and wish to work in the UK, you need to check with the GOC that your qualifications meet UK requirements. If your qualifications are accepted, you would then need to contact the ABDO for details of their Professional Qualifying Examination.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are working and qualified as a dispensing optician, you can take a range of post-registration courses in areas such as increasing expertise in contact lens practice.
You also need to renew your registration with the GOC each year. When you reapply, you need to be able to show the GOC that you have developed your skills and knowledge. The ABDO has details of continuing education and training opportunities that may help you meet GOC requirements.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- the ability to deal with scientific and mathematical information
- accuracy and attention to detail
- practical skills with the ability to handle ophthalmic instruments
- good communication skills
- patience and a pleasant and approachable manner
- the ability to deal with people confidently and sympathetically
- good business skills, especially when working in private practice
- an understanding of style and fashion
- a good eye for colour.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line 
Tel: 08000 150850
General Optical Council
41 Harley Street
London
W1G 8DJ
Tel: 020 7580 3898
www.optical.org/
Association of British Dispensing Opticians
Godmersham Park
Godmersham
Kent
CT4 7DT
Tel: 01227 738 829
www.abdo.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
There are around 4,000 registered dispensing opticians in the UK. You are most likely to find jobs in private practice, but you could also work in hospitals, in teaching, as a consultant to a lens manufacturer, or as a representative selling ophthalmological instruments.
Your career prospects will vary depending on the sector you work in and the size of the business. With experience, you could progress to an assistant manager post or become self-employed, possibly working in partnership with optometrists.
Many countries recognise registration with the General Optical Council, so working overseas could also be an option.
With further training, you could go on to qualify and work as an Optometrist. The University of Bradford is offering qualified dispensing opticians a career progression course that would allow you to graduate with a degree in Optometry in around 12months (see the university website for details).
You will often find jobs advertised through Jobcentre Plus, the local and national press, on websites such as Optician and in specialist press like Optometry Today.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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