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Optician
| Duties and Responsibilities: |
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Opticians fit and dispense eyeglasses for patients based upon prescriptions
written by ophthalmologists or optometrists. Opticians help the customers
select eyeglass frames and then measure their faces so that correct size
frames can be ordered. They also measure the distance between the
corneas of the eyes so that the lenses may be correctly fitted in the frames.
Some opticians specialize in the fitting of contact lens and also in fitting
artificial eyes. Opticians may own their own retail store or work
for an optical store. Some also work for optometrists and ophthalmologists
who sell glasses. |
| Average Salary: $19,000 - $40,000 |
| Educational Requirements: |
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Students should take high school courses in physics, algebra, mechanical
drawing, and geometry. A high school diploma or GED certificate is
needed to begin training as an optician. There are two types of training
programs. Students can either complete an approved two-year course
at an school of opticianry, or they can complete an approved three year
on-the-job apprenticeship. |
| For More Information: |
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Opticians Association of
America
10341 Democracy Lane
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2521
(703) 691-8355 |
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National Academy of Opticianry
10111 Martin Luther King, Jr., Highway, Suite 112
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 577-4828 |
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