Apprentice Optical Assistant

About this apprenticeship

It's all about teamwork in an optician's practice. There are many roles, but you support each other to ensure your customers get the best experience possible. Optical assistants are a very important part of any optical practice and crucial to the customer journey. Individuals with a real passion for both healthcare and retail thrive in this role, as it's perfect for those who love to make a real difference in other people's lives.
The duties within this role include:

Greeting customers in a professional and friendly manner as they enter the practice.
Interpreting and understanding a clinically issued prescription, its effects on the eye, and the customer's vision.
Helping customer's select spectacle frame(s) that are suitable in terms of comfort, looks good and fits lifestyle requirements.
Be able to explain the features and benefits of particular frames, using non-technical customer friendly language.
Measuring the frames and ensure they are a suitable size for a customer and can accommodate their lenses.
Adjusting customers spectacle frames using the correct tools to ensure stability and comfort.
Basic frame repairs.
Have a good knowledge of Ophthalmic lenses, tints and coatings to be able to meet visual / lifestyle requirements.
Ordering prescription glasses and contact lenses in for the customer.
Correct completion of NHS paperwork and written records in-line with company procedures.
Making follow up appointments for customers.
Use a focimeter to find the prescription from spectacles.
Communicate contact lenses suitability, features and benefits.
Carrying out pre-screening tests such as retinal imaging and pressure and visual field testing.
Explaining offers and products to customers.
Taking payments from customers.
Being able to problem solve with basic optical concerns
Understanding business KPI's and how they affect the practices profitability

What you could go on to do

The successful candidate will work towards achieving a Level 3 qualification in optical and gain experience in a busy optical practice.
 
Upon completion of the Level 3 qualification, you will be an experienced and qualified optical assistant, and as such, you can continue building up skills that will always be in demand. Career breaks and part time working are often possible.
 
You could go on to acquire higher level optical qualifications such as:
 

Ophthalmic Dispensing- Become a qualified Dispensing Optician.
Contact lens Optician – fit Contact lenses.
Low vision specialist – help people where traditional spectacles will not suffice. Supply low vision aids, magnifiers, advice on improving contrast and on other non-Optical aids such as bump-ons.
Optometry courses – carry out full eye examinations and issue prescriptions.
Clinical representative- visiting practices introducing new frame ranges and Ophthalmic lenses.
In-practice trainer – You could use your knowledge to train others.

 
Other non-clinical roles:
 

Practice Management you could complete a management course.
Practice ownership you could go into business yourself, partnership or franchise.