Optician.
Reese, Susan
AN OPTICIAN, AS DESCRIBED BY THE OPTICIANS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
(OAA), IS "A HEALTH professional specially trained to supply,
prepare and dispense optical appliances through interpretation of
written prescriptions." Opticians adapt and fit corrective eyewear
or vision aids, as prescribed by doctors (such as ophthalmologists or
optometrists). Their duties might include assisting patients with
selection of the proper frames and lenses, as well as maintaining
patient, inventory, supply and equipment maintenance records. They may
also be involved in sales and office management.
The Workplace
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), about half of all opticians worked in
optometrists' or physicians' offices in 2014. Other opticians
worked in stores, ranging from stand-alone businesses to large retailers
and department stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids
and other optical goods.
Education
OAA notes that 23 states require opticians to be licensed, and
licensure usually requires completion of formal education through an
approved program or apprenticeship. Additionally, continuing education
may be required to maintain licensure. A number of community colleges
and technical schools offer both two-year associate degree programs, as
well as one-year certificate programs. These programs typically include
class work in addition to supervised clinical work, and they may be
accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation.
Earnings
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for opticians was
$34,840 in May 2015, with the highest 10 percent earning more than
$55,530 per year.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook
projects that employment for opticians will grow by 29 percent from 2010
to 2020, noting that while awareness of the need for eye health is
increasing across all age groups, our aging population will be the main
contributor to the increased need for opticians, since eye problems
arise more often as we reach middle age.
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By Susan Reese
