To qualify as a dispensing optician, you can do a course approved by the General Optical Council. There are 3 different types of course to choose from.

You can do a:

• full-time diploma which takes 2 years followed by working under supervision for a year
• day release training course combined with working which takes 3 years
• distance learning course which includes on the job training and takes 3 years

You'll also need to pass the professional qualifying examinations from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, including a science

You may be able to apply for a place on a Dispensing Optician Level 6 Apprenticeship, with an opticians company.

This can take 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths knowledge
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to sell products and services
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Student register

If you're a student, you'll need to register as a student with the General Optical Council before you do any clinical work.

Working in the UK

If you qualified outside of the UK, you need to check with the General Optical Council that your qualifications meet UK requirements. 

If your qualifications are accepted, you would then need to contact the Association of British Dispensing Opticians to find out about the professional qualifying examinations.

In this role you could:

• calculate vision distances and angles 
• give advice on caring for eye equipment
• measure for glasses or contact lenses and help people choose lenses and frames
• fit, adjust and repair frames
• refer clients back to an optometrist for vision tests when needed
• work with suppliers, order products and check quality on delivery

You could work at a store or in an NHS or private hospital.