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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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32100.00 – Opticians

Opticians assist clients in the selection of eyeglass frames, take the necessary measurements and arrange for the production of eyeglasses or contact lenses, mount lenses in eyeglass frames and fit clients with final prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. Student opticians and opticians who are managers of optical retail outlets are included in this unit group.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Contact lens fitter
  • Contact lens practitioner
  • Dispensing optician
  • Licensed optician
  • Optician

Core competencies

  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to use machinery to grind and shape lenses to meet the clients' prescription and ensure they fit the desired eyeglass frames
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving to accurately address client needs, troubleshoot equipment issues, ensure precise measurements and handle unexpected challenges
  • Verbal Ability and Speech Clarity to assist clients in selecting contact lenses and eyeglasses by advising on lens materials, frames, tints and anti-reflection coating
  • Near Vision to operate optical measuring devices to measure clients' eye curvatures, pupillary distances and bridge widths; and in using equipment to cut and edge lenses, fit lenses into frames and grind and polish lenses
  • Attention to Detail to precisely determine specifications for eyeglasses and contact lenses from prescriptions and ensure prepared lenses match specifications
  • Knowledge in Physical Health to understand ocular anatomy and visual system principles when taking measurements and fitting corrective lenses

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription prepared by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or by analyzing the client's eyeglasses or contact lenses and take necessary measurements including the curvature of the eyes, the accurate position of the pupils and bridge width, using optical measuring devices
  • Advice clients on eyeglasses selection by informing them of different products such as lens materials, frames, tints and anti-reflection coating
  • Adjust contact lenses and inform client on use and care
  • Grind, polish, cut and edge lenses or have them made by a laboratory before inserting them into the frame
  • Adjust finished eyeglasses to fit client
  • May supervise or manage the activities of other opticians or student opticians.

Additional information

No data has been provided for this section.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Ocularists (32129.02)
  • Ophthalmologists (31101.03)
  • Optometrists (31111)
  • Other assisting occupations in support of health services (33109)
  • Retail and wholesale trade managers (60020)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

32 – Technical occupations in health

Sub-major group

321 – Technical occupations in health (except practitioners of natural healing)

Minor group

3210 – Technical occupations in therapy and assessment

Unit group

32100 – Opticians

Occupational profile

32100.00 – Opticians

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.