Optical Technician Overview

Required Education and Training To Become an Optical Technician

Best Schools to become a Optical Technician in U.S. 2024

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ

In-State Tuition:$11,210
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,628
Admission Rate:87%
Graduation Rate:68%
Total Enrollment:49,403

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV

In-State Tuition:$3,383
Out-of-State Tuition:$11,284
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:17%
Total Enrollment:28,901

Hillsborough Community College

Tampa, FL

In-State Tuition:$1,931
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,728
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:33%
Total Enrollment:19,504

San Jacinto Community College

Pasadena, TX

In-State Tuition:$3,240
Out-of-State Tuition:$5,040
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:32%
Total Enrollment:30,593

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY

In-State Tuition:$60,550
Out-of-State Tuition:$60,550
Admission Rate:39%
Graduation Rate:90%
Total Enrollment:12,197

American Career College-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

In-State Tuition:$N/A
Out-of-State Tuition:$N/A
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:64%
Total Enrollment:1,969
Optical Technician Job Description:
  • Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification.
  • Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses.
  • Assist client with selecting frames.
  • Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription.
  • Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames.
  • Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles.
  • Adjust frame and lens position to fit client.
  • May shape or reshape frames.
  • Includes contact lens opticians.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become an Optical Technician

Job Duties for Optical Technicians

  • Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.

  • Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.

  • Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.

Technologies and Skills Used by Optical Technicians

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software
  • EZ-Zone Optizone Enterprise

Medical software

  • First Insight MaximEyes
  • Specialist Data Solutions OctoPlus

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Talking to others

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • Looking for ways to help people

Current Job Market and Opportunites for an Optical Technician

Additional Resources To Help You Become an Optical Technician

FAQs About Becoming an Optical Technician