Career outlook for
Figures and forecasts for roles at the same level, which require similar skills and qualifications.
Average UK salary
Currently employed in Scotland
Jobs forecast
This information is supplied by LMI For All, where data is currently available for Scotland.
What's it like?
You would help customers choose glasses and contact lenses that suit and fit them and meet their needs. You’d order the spectacles and contact lenses and make sure they fit.
You would create orders for glasses and lenses using the prescriptions from an optometrist, who examines and tests eyes or an ophthalmologist, an eye surgeon.
You’d work with each individual customer to select the right spectacles or contact lenses for them.
You would:
- Use equipment to measure customers for spectacles or contact lenses
- Use the measurements to calculate distances and angles and assess the options for types of lenses
- Give people advice and information about the options for lens options, such as single vision or bifocal
- Advise people on the style, weight and colour of frames
- Fit, adjust and repair frames
You’d be working in retail, so you’d be marketing and selling glasses and contact lenses.
With further training, you could also show customers how to use and care for contact lenses.
You might work in partnership with an optometrist, where you would be involved in managing the business.
You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the Dispensing optician page on the NHSScotland Careers website.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
Part-time
Self employed
Create a qualification route
We’ve found some examples of the qualifications that could help you get this job.
Discover my routeTop skills
Here are some of the skills that people in this job would be most likely to have:
- Communicating with people
- Helping customers
- Accuracy
- Working with your hands
- Working with numbers
- Paying attention to detail
Build your skills
Your skills can help you choose the career that’s right for you. You can build your skills through work, study or activities you do in your spare time.
To understand more, have a look at what are my skills?
Keep track of your skills in your account and find the jobs, opportunities and courses that suit you.
Click here to view / add your skillsGetting in
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
Qualifications
You need a degree in ophthalmic dispensing (SCQF level 10).
Entry to a degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers at BBC or above, or a relevant HNC/HND.
It may be possible to start as a trainee with a qualified dispensing optician and complete a three-year distance learning course with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) College.
Useful subjects
Many courses require:
- English
- Maths
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
You will also need
The degree is followed by one year of supervised professional practice before applying for General Optical Council (GOC) professional registration.
You will need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
Related industries
