Optician
Comprehensive Sites
AllAbout VisionThis is a good source of information on eye health and vision correction. You can link to information on eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye examination, and more on different problems and conditions of the eye.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Optician, DispensingCreated by the U.S. Department of Labor, this career profile introduces you to the training, work qualifications, employment data, and job outlook for an optician. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find links to important professional organizations in the field, or click on detailed earning data.
CareerOneStop: Opticians, DispensingFrom a complete careers database, this site lets you connect to specific information from any state you choose on becoming an optician. You will find, not only a description of an optician, but also a career video, specific tasks and skills needed, work activities, and links to information on training and colleges. A host of related job profile sties is also at this site.
Occupational Titles
Optician
Dispensing Optician
Accredited Academic Programs
College Kingdom: Optician/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Academic ProgramsThe list at this site connects you to schools and their links for programs across the U.S. that offer an optician training degree. Many of these are at community and junior colleges.
Salary Levels
PayScale: Optician, DispensingThe median hourly rate for a dispensing optician is shown at the graph at this site. If you scroll down, you will find additional depictions of salary according to state and city of employment.
Professional Organizations
American Board of OpticianryThis is a national organization that sets standards for dispensing opticians—that is those who fit for eyeglasses. Here, you can find out more about the basic examination, advanced certification, licensing boards, and education and conferences.
American Board of Opticianry: National Contact Lens ExaminersThis is a national organization that sets standards for dispensing opticians, including those who fit patients for contact lenses. Learn more about how to get certified in this field and find out about educational opportunities at this site.
Opticians Association of AmericaThis association works on behalf of opticians and offers online education, links to state societies, news, a job center, and an online newsletter, known as American Optician.
Licensing & Certification
American Board of OpticianryThis site describes the certification process for both the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lenses Examiners. These organizations were created in order to provide certification boards to more than 30,000 eyeglass and contact lens dispensers nationwide. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can learn about advanced certification.
ISeek: Certifications by Career, OpticianYou will find links to eight certifications related to the optician’s career at this site. Connect directly from here to the certifying organizations and specific credential you can earn.
Opticians Association of America: Links to State Licensing BoardsFind direct connections and contact information for individual state licensing boards. General requirements for licensure are also briefly introduced at each state heading.
Job Opportunity Sources
OpticianJobsAccess to hundreds of employers targeting readers of Optician online is found here, where you can search by job type, location, salary, and keywords.
Publications
OpticianAt the home page of the online version of Optician, you will find everything from feature stories to eye disease videos. Learn more about the field by accessing the links to continuing education, features, and blogging, or perform a search at the top of the page.
Online Forums & Blogs
OptiBoard Discussion ForumThis general eyecare and optics discussion forum addresses general topics in the eyecare field and is intended for professionals. You can learn a lot about the field after registering, where you can post, access blogs, find other members, and search related forums. Industry news, contact lenses, the optical marketplace, a job board, and educational forums are included
Career Videos
ISeek: OpticiansThe video at this page describes how opticians prepare and fit patients for contact lenses and eyeglasses. You can learn about the regular and administrative functions of the job, as well as what a successful optician really needs to know about the process of creating eyewear.
