If you have an eye for eyewear, a career as an Optician may be the right choice for you! Opticians help fit consumers for eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists. They also help those patients select a pair of lenses or contacts. Not only does this make the job fun and creative, but Opticianry is also a booming industry with a bright job outlook! Here we will break down the top reasons to become an optician today.
A “Bright” Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of opticians is expected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026 – much faster than the average for all occupations!
Since we’re living longer, the growth of the elderly population is projected to lead to greater demand for eye care services. And because people have eye problems more frequently as they age, the need for opticians is likely to grow with the number of older people. The United State Census Bureau estimates there are about 3.58 million people living in Connecticut – and more than 16 percent of those residents are aged 65 and older.
A Social Situation
If the Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 grind behind a desk sounds like a dull life, join the club! Many millennials are moving away from the traditional desk jobs in search of something more exciting. Becoming an optician means working in a field where every day is different. Patients come to you in search of a new look – literally! And the people who enter your office will come from all different walks of life. From your childhood pals to the local weatherman – you never know who will walk through the door of your store. So, get ready to strike up a conversation, because your daily work life is about to get a whole lot more fascinating!
Easy to SEE it Happen (See what we did there?)
Anyone looking to become an optician in Connecticut should complete a specialized optician training program, like the one at Goodwin College. The good news is, the programs at Goodwin College are very flexible, so that students can work towards their optician degree and continue to manage their other priorities. Whether you have kids, a full-time job to help with the bills, or you’re trying to balance both – starting your career as an Optician in Connecticut is more than manageable. Unlike most Optician and Vision Care programs, classes at Goodwin are offered during a range of times, including evenings and weekends, as well as in hybrid formats.
Vision care students can learn the skills needed as an optician with live, hands-on experience at Goodwin’s state-of-the-art lab facility and training store. Our optician training store models the setting of a real-life optical practice, where students assist real patients and fit eyewear under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor. Goodwin’s optician program is the only one-of-its-kind in the area, both training students in technical work and honing their customer service skills. Check out these incredible new facilities for yourself! View a video tour of the training store and laboratory facility.
Of course, to become an optician, many states require professionals to be licensed, and the same is true in Connecticut. Click here for the full list of certification requirements. Goodwin College’s optician degree program prepares students to sit for both the American Board of Opticianry exam (ABO) and the National Contact Lens Examination (NCLE).
Opticians work closely with people, which why so many love what they do! Before deciding to become an optician, though, you must ask yourself if you have the skills and passion needed for the job. Some important qualities required include:
- Communication skills
- Customer service skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Management skills
- Manual dexterity
Opticians do so much more than fit folks for glasses and contact lenses. They must identify the needs of clients, adapt to working with different personalities, run business sales, inventory, and decision-making in their optical store, and work with several specialized tools to adjust and repair eyeglasses. All of this, and more, can be taught in the right Connecticut optician training program.
If you feel ready to become an optician – congratulations! You’ve answered an age-old question that plagues many adults searching for the right career: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Learn more about the Vision Care program, laboratories, and facilities at Goodwin College by calling 800-889-3282 or visit https://www.goodwin.edu/opsci to request more information.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.