Dispensing optician : Training

For financial reasons, many graduates wanting to pursue the profession prefer to enter employment and undertake part-time study rather than enrolling in a full-time course. Securing work as a trainee dispensing optician is therefore an ideal option - allowing individuals to study on a part-time and/or distance learning basis while working.

Most employers are willing to cover the cost of study and examination fees, although in a few cases, students are expected to pay their own fees. It is important to check exactly what an employer is willing to contribute before starting training. Sponsorship for full-time courses is rare, and most full-time students take out student loans.

Successful completion of the course, the pre-registration year and the qualifying Association of British Dispensing Opticians  (ABDO) examinations leads to registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) . Registration must be renewed annually for as long as individuals wish to practise in the UK.

Continuing education and training (CET) is now a statutory requirement for continued registration with the GOC. The CET scheme exists to ensure registrants maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills. This is done through gaining CET points through participation in a number of activities including attending conferences, completing assessments or completing distance learning modules.

Once a dispensing optician has qualified and gained some professional experience, many go on to take further professional training in order to specialise in a particular area or add to their portfolio of skills. The most well-known advanced course is the Contact Lens Certificate, which qualifies dispensing opticians in the supply and fitting of contact lenses.

Another possible specialist area is the supply of low-vision aids, though this expertise is likely to be more useful in a hospital setting than in a high street outlet. Additional courses are available through ABDO, who are hoping to introduce more specialist subjects in the future.