Optician / Optical Technician

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the skills lab and clinical site unsupervised.

• Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
• Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
• Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
• Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
• Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel

Competency course in Optics for the Optician / Optical Technician program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in Optics and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern Optics
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for Optics
• Perform the core tasks of Optics to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in Optics work and correct them
• Document Optics work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in lens fabrication & edging for the Optician / Optical Technician program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in lens fabrication & edging and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern lens fabrication & edging
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for lens fabrication & edging
• Perform the core tasks of lens fabrication & edging to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in lens fabrication & edging work and correct them
• Document lens fabrication & edging work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in frame fitting for the Optician / Optical Technician program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in frame fitting and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern frame fitting
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for frame fitting
• Perform the core tasks of frame fitting to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in frame fitting work and correct them
• Document frame fitting work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in contact lens basics for the Optician / Optical Technician program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in contact lens basics and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern contact lens basics
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for contact lens basics
• Perform the core tasks of contact lens basics to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in contact lens basics work and correct them
• Document contact lens basics work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in dispensing for the Optician / Optical Technician program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in dispensing and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern dispensing
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for dispensing
• Perform the core tasks of dispensing to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in dispensing work and correct them
• Document dispensing work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in retail for the Optician / Optical Technician program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in retail and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern retail
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for retail
• Perform the core tasks of retail to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in retail work and correct them
• Document retail work in the clinical log to industry format

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in Optician / Optical Technician: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

• Plan and estimate a complete job from a specification
• Execute the job to standard within the estimate
• Present the finished work and its documentation to an employer panel

Supervised clinical hours at an affiliated facility, meeting the hour and skills requirements of the licensing body for Optician / Optical Technician. Preceptor-evaluated; hours logged for the board.

• Perform the trade's tasks in a real workplace under supervision
• Meet employer expectations for attendance, safety and conduct
• Log hours and tasks in the format the certifying body accepts

Structured preparation for ABO Certified Optician; NCLE Contact Lens: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

• Score ≥ 80% on two timed mock exams
• Complete the eligibility application and hours verification
• Rehearse the practical exam format to time

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.