Curriculum

Optician Training Curriculum

Penn Foster’s online Optician Training Program consists of courses that will cover a comprehensive scope of an optician’s fundamental role. Learn how to use the tools of the trade as well as perform everyday tasks to work alongside an ophthalmologist in a professional atmosphere.

Optician Exam Prep

Career Diploma

11 months

As low as $59/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Optician Training Curriculum

7 courses
30.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
18 exams

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 11 months
Average time = 12 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. Starting Your Program is designed to help you make a smooth transition to Penn Foster, including learning how to use all the tools and resources that are available to you, get help when you need it, understand the Code of Conduct, and improv your study skills and time management. The goal is to help you become a confident, independent learner.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
This course introduces you to opticianry and being part of the eye care team. You’ll explore the history of opticianry as well as the origins of many of the items used in eye care and the predecessors of modern equipment.

In this course, you’ll learn to identify the members of the eye care team and their responsibilities. The course describes the different types of eye care offices and their separate areas. You’ll learn about the professional qualifications and responsibilities of an optician and about licensure in theUnited States. You’ll also learn about the different organizations, regulations, and standards that affect opticians in the United States. Good luck with your studies and best wishes for a successful career in opticianry!

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Summarize the evolution of eye care and the roles and responsibilities set by licensing boards for opticians practitioners
In this course, you’llcover the fundamentals of opticianry. This includes understanding basic optical principles, terminology, anatomy, and math. As a professional optician, you should be able to analyze and interpret a written prescription for corrective lenses and recommend the best products to your patients.

Upon completing this course, you should understand the properties of light, how light reacts while passing through ophthalmic lenses, characteristics of spectacle lenses used to correct vision, ocular anatomy, and terminology.You’llalso learn about decimals, signed numbers, conversion of Englishandmetric length measurements, essential trigonometric functions, and optical formulas.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Summarize the theories and scientific principles that serve as the foundation of opticianry
- Describe the anatomy of the eye and various conditions that affect its visual acuity
- Apply mathematical formulas and theories that pertain to calculations used in optical math
Opticianry is the application of the science of optics to the fabrication and fitting of prescription eyewear and contact lenses. This course will help you to gain an understanding of the skills required to become an ophthalmic dispenser, better known as an optician.

There are two basic types of opticians: dispensing opticians and laboratory opticians. A dispensing optician interprets a doctor’s written prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses and assists the patient in the selection of lenses and frames. In contrast, a laboratory optician interprets the doctor’s eyeglass prescription, specifies the selection of lens and frame stock, formulates lens specifications, and performs all technical functions in the making of eyewear.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify the components and measurements needed for ophthalmic frames
- Recall how to take accurate and precise measurements for optimal visual clarity
- Identify the techniques and procedures used to properly adjust and align ophthalmic frames
To be able to dispense the most effective and practical lenses for a patient, you need to have a firm understanding of the theories and principles that build the foundation of opticianry and lens dispensing. The start of this course builds on your working knowledge of powers of lenses, optical prism, and other eyewear requirements you’ve discussed in your previous studies. You’ll also learn about different types of lens materials and their uses, and the identifying characteristics of each type.

In this course, you’ll also explore the advantages and disadvantages of various types of lens materials. You’ll also look at how lenses can be altered to best suit the environment and lifestyle of the wearer, including which tints to use in specific situations, other coatings that can be applied, and standards and regulations to consider for each category of eyewear.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Relate shape, thickness, position, and prism of lenses to their affect on performance
- Compare a variety of lens and multifocal lens styles, materials, and considerations
- Identify which tints to use in safety eyewear and the standards and regulations important to a variety of eyewear types
This course is designed to help you understand the work performed by contact lens fitters. You’ll learn about the different types of contact lenses that are available, how to measure the surface of the eye using various instruments, and how to fit contact lenses for various patients. The common complications and fitting problems are reviewed, and you’ll learn how some contact lenses can be modified in the vision care office. Finally, you’ll learn how to care for and handle contact lenses, and how to instruct patients in wearing them.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Summarize the evolution of contact lenses, the anatomy and physiology of the eye, and the concept of optical science
- Describe opticianry tools,biomicroscopy, keratometry, and how the eye is measured
- Identify the indications and contraindications for contact lens wearers
- Describe the different types of follow-up examinations, patient care procedures, and bifocal adjustments
Success as a professional optician is dependent on the quality of one’s education as well as one's ability to perform the required tasks with confidence. In-depth knowledge coupled with a professional outlook helps an optician to reach his or her career goal. In the workplace, an optician should be able to tackle day-to-day challenges, deal with people with varied needs and attitudes, and face new situations on a regular basis.

This course will help you understand the requirements of an optician’s job, including the ways to prepare in both knowledge and appearance for maximum results. You'll also be introduced to various business function units, the roles of different employees, patient management, and the basic finance and accounts of an optical office.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Explain the professional, business, and interpersonal skills practiced by professional opticians
- Identify the knowledge required for the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE)
- Identify the knowledge required for the Contact Lens Registry Examination (CLRE)

Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.