Occupation Profile

Opticians, Dispensing

(SOC Code : 29-2081)

in California

Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. 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. Include contact lens opticians.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Long-term on-the-job training (> 12 months) .

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Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$18.44	$14.74	$18.08	$21.92

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	6,200	7,300	1,100	17.7	240

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Contact Lens Dispenser

Department of Consumer Affairs
Medical Board of California
Registered Dispensing Optician Program
www.mbc.ca.gov/allied/rdo_program.html

Spectacle Lens Dispenser

Department of Consumer Affairs
Medical Board of California
Registered Dispensing Optician Program
www.mbc.ca.gov/allied/rdo_program.html

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Offices of Other Health Practitioners

38,883

56.9%

Health and Personal Care Stores

17,459

16.0%

Offices of Physicians

62,928

12.9%

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

1,393

3.5%

Outpatient Care Centers

6,487

1.4%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.

Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.

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

Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.

Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.

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

Fabricate lenses to meet prescription specifications.

Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.

Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.

Instruct clients in how to wear and care for eyeglasses.

More Tasks for Opticians, Dispensing

Top Skills used in this Job

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

More Skills for Opticians, Dispensing

Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

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Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

More Interests for Opticians, Dispensing