32100 Opticians

What this occupation covers

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. They are employed in optical retail outlets or other establishments with optical dispensing departments, or they may be self-employed. Student opticians and opticians who are managers of optical retail outlets are included in this unit group.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 6 main duties for this code.

• 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.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 6 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers
• 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
• 31101 Specialists in surgery
• 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services
• 31111 Optometrists

Excluded from this code

• Dispensing opticians office manager (See 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers)
• Ocularist (See 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians)
• Ophthalmologist (See 31101 Specialists in surgery)
• Optical laboratory technician (See 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services)
• Optometrists (See 31111 Optometrists)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

apprentice optician · contact lens dispenser · contact lens fitter · contact lens practitioner · contact lens technician · dispensing optician · dispensing optician student · eyeglasses fitter · eyeglasses frame fitter · intern optician · licensed contact lens practitioner · licensed dispensing optician · licensed optician · managing optician · ophthalmic device dispenser · ophthalmic dispenser · optical device dispenser · optical dispensing manager · optical frame fitter · optician · optometric dispenser · spectacle frame fitter · student optician · visual orthesis technician

Employment requirements

• Completion of a two- or three-year college program in ophthalmic dispensing or optical sciences is required.
• Licensing by a regulatory body for opticians is required in all provinces.
• Licensing requirements for scope of practice and protected titles related to the sale or dispensing and fitting of contact lenses vary by province.