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Optician Courses

NEW Online/Apprenticeship Model!

You are:

  • Professional
  • Driven & ambitious
  • Patient & caring
  • Entrepreneurial

What is an optician?

Becoming a Licensed Optician is an opportunity to achieve a well-paying career in a regulated health profession, while at the same time allowing you to give back to the community, exercise your passion for fashion, and help people see better. It is a career that will let you explore your strengths and help you achieve your goals all while letting you live your best life.

 

How is the course broken down? What will I learn?

Our Optician Program will provide online theory classes and co-op practical experience with industry leads that provide training in:

  • Eyeglass Dispensing: lab safety, operation and use of equipment used for the fabrication of spectacles.
  • Contact Lens: principles of contact lens assessment, design, fabrication, and fitting.
  • Manual Refraction: theories and methodologies involved in the measurement of the eye’s focusing characteristics.
  • Ocular Science: anatomy and physiology of the eye, structures of the eye and associated pathologies, as well as the physiological processes related to vision.
  • Communications and Professionalism: communication techniques and professional interaction between various eye care practitioners, support staff, and clients.
  • Business and Sales: an overview of principles for operating a retail vision care business and selling products to clients.
  • Co-op Clinical Practice: real-life hands-on practice for the duration of the program.

How does the theory and practical blend work?

As a student, you will have plenty of opportunities to practice skills learned in theory through your co-op placement in a real-life clinical setting. Clinical practice will be provided in the industry for the duration of the program. This will give you the opportunity to integrate into a team and connect with prospective employers.
This comprehensive 16-month modular online program is a combination of online classes (2 days per week) and co-op clinical placement (2 days per week). The clinical site is arranged for you through our sponsorship agreement with our industry partners. This type of placement will connect you to prospective employers and allow you to practice and refine the skills you have learned. This is valuable experience you can put directly on your resume!
Upon successfully completing the program, you will be eligible to complete the NACOR examination. Success on this exam makes you a licensable optician and gives you reciprocity across Canada.

Term 1: January 31, 2022 – July 1, 2022

Term 2: July 18, 2022 – December 16, 2022

Term 3: January 3, 2023 – May 12, 2023

The Oulton College Optician Diploma Program will prepare you for a dynamic career assisting patients with their vision care. Opticians are formally trained vision care practitioners who prepare and dispense optical aids by using the prescriptions of Optometrists or Ophthalmologists. By completing our Optician Program, you will be able to work with other health care professionals, ensuring that your clients’ vision needs are met by assisting in the selection of their frames, fitting, adjusting and adapting their glasses, contact lenses, or special vision devices.

If you want to be part of a growing field, have a professional demeanor, and are interested in helping patients access quality vision care, then our Optician Program may be just the program for you.

Other Benefits Include:

 

  • Oulton is delivering the accredited Optician program online to any demographic in Canada
  • Reduced cost of living since relocation to attend school is not required
  • 100% job placement with competitive high starting salaries
  • Online classes allow the student the flexibility to have more control over their schedule
  • Development of self-monitoring skills
  • Build connections nationally and globally with student colleagues
  • Increase opportunity for employment and more opportunities for eye care professionals to hire licensed opticians
  • Co-op program model draws more interest to prospective international students
  • Development of relationships with optical buying groups to secure co-op placements and employment opportunities
  • Partnerships for co-op placement – Our co-op education model enhances student learning and creates opportunities for the student to engage directly with the optical community
  • Our co-op program makes it easy for employers to recruit and employ eager, qualified optician co-op students
  • Our community service learning courses integrate community service, typically 2 hours a week for 10 weeks, with course work and gives the student the opportunity to relate their experiences to the content of their courses and enhance their learning

Admissions Requirements:

  • Grade 12 Diploma, Adult Diploma or GED
  • Grade 11 or 12 Biology* with a minimum average of 65%
  • Grade 11 or 12 Math* with a minimum average of 65%
  • Grade 11 or 12 English* with a minimum average of 65%
  • Grade 11 or 12 Physics* is considered an asset
  • Meeting with an Admissions Advisor
  • Acceptance by the Admissions Committee
  • Reference Letters (3) as request by The Optician Association of New Brunswick
  • Completion of the Pre-Enrollment Package

* Level II or University Preparatory courses are required
Based on New Brunswick Anglophone High School Curriculum.
For other provincial or international requirements please contact us directly.

Unless they have completed a minimum of three years of study at a school where English is the language of instruction, international students whose first language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency:

  • CAEL – 70
  • IELTS – 7.0
  • TOEFL – 550 paper based, 270 computer based
  • MELAB – 90

Admissions Requirements – French School System

    • Diplôme grade 12, diplôme adulte ou GED
    • Rencontre avec un Admission Advisor
    • Anglais 311 ou 411 ou 421 avec un minimum de 65%
    • Biologie 411 ou 421 avec un minimum de 65%
    • Math 311B ou 321B avec un minimum de 65%
    • Physique 311 ou 411 sont considérés des atouts mais pas nécessaires
    • Des quotas géographiques peuvent être considérés

Course Descriptions:

Dispensing Theory

The history of eyeglasses and their design is explored along with proper methods and tools used for frame adjustments. Interpretation of prescriptions and the relationship between frame, lens, and prescription selection will be introduced. As we advance, task-specific lens designs, special dispensing considerations, and low vision will be covered.

Fabrication and Dispensing Practical Skills

This is a practical application based on the knowledge from Dispensing Theory. Instruction is given on the assembly of spectacles, use of tools, and measuring devices. Students practice frame adjustments and measurements for spectacles and task-specific glasses.

Contact Lens Theory

This course covers the history of contact lenses, their design, optical theory, materials, and contact lens terminology. Instrumentation and fitting procedures for both hard and soft contact lenses and health assessment will be introduced. Fitting assessments, wear schedules, and indicators for contact lens wear are studied. Complications due to contact lens wear, special lens fitting considerations, and modifications are also covered.

Contact Lens Practical Skills

This is the practical application of Contact Lens Theory. Measurements using a keratometer, verification of parameters, and the condition of hard and soft contact lenses as well as an introduction to the slit-lamp and its use. Manufacturing tolerances and specialty lenses will be examined.

Ocular Science

This course examines the anatomy and physiology of the eye and its surrounding area. Muscles of the eye both internal and external along with their function and dysfunctions will be studied.

Optics

This is an introduction to physical optics. Lens types, concepts, and calculations used for lens fabrication will be explored. The theory of reflection and refraction, simple optical systems, and lens image formation are studied.

Communications and Interpersonal Skills

This is a communications course focusing on verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Cross-cultural differences and how to relate to them will be discussed in this course as well.

Professionalism

In this course, students will learn about resume building and interview skills. They will learn how to use social media as a means of communication in the business world. The professional interaction between the different eye care practitioners and support staff will also be a major focus. Patient/ client interaction will be discussed in regards to patient education and exchange of information.

Sales and Clinical Preparation

This course will focus on customer service and sales skills as well as techniques in approaching optical clients during the sales process.

Business Entrepreneurship

This is a small business course that will teach students basic business practices while enabling them to prepare their own business plans. This will be accomplished through a mixture of lectures, discussion, case scenarios, and self-directed readings.

Standards of Practice

This course will look at ethics, legislation, privacy, consent, and licensing.
Workplace safety regarding current procedures for infectious disease and prevention are also reviewed.

Manual Refraction

This course will teach you the theories and methodologies involved in the measurement of the eye’s focusing characteristics.

Community Engagement

During this weekly community engagement, topics for journaling will come from activities and situations which arise during the community engagement. Students are required to keep a journal of daily experiences and self-reflect on their progress. Journals will periodically be submitted for instructor review and feedback.

Manual Refraction Practical Skills

This is the practical application of Manual Refraction. You will access the binocular function and ocular motility of the eye, use subjective and objective techniques to identify and quantify ametropia, recognize significant signs and symptoms in relation to the patient’s or client’s eye and general health, the effects of medication on ocular health, and assess the visual function for a patient with a visual impairment.

Career Choices:


Find rewarding careers in private clinics and vision care centers.

    • Operate your own optical
    • Private clinics and vision care centers
    • Optometrist’s or Ophthalmologist’s office
    • LASIK
    • Instructor for optical programs
    • Large retail eyewear chains
    • Sales representative for ophthalmic frames, ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, and optical equipment
    • Optical laboratory
    • Manufacturing of ophthalmic equipment

Meet the Admissions & Marketing Team

Our admissions team is here to help! Our personalized approach to education starts with understanding your career

Our admissions team helps students navigate their way through the many post-secondary options that are now available. Contact us today to schedule your personalized campus visit. You’ll meet with an Admissions Advisor, discuss career options, explore course material and tour our campus! Our Community Engagement team also travels throughout the Maritimes visiting local high schools – contact our reps to see when we’ll be in your area!


Samantha Savage

Manager, Admissions & Marketing
T: 1-888-757-2020 ext 120
Email

Oulton Admission & Marketing Team - Lori Warren

Lori Warren

Admissions Advisor

T: 1-888-757-2020 ext 111
Email

Carla Harrison

Admissions Advisor

T: 1-888-757-2020 ext 167
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Marianne Martin de Carvalho

International Admissions Advisor

T: 1-888-757-2020 ext. 117
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Muskan Verma

Admissions Advisor

T: 1-888-757-2020 ext 113
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Crislaine Coscarelli

International Admissions & Marketing Associate

T: 1-888-757-2020
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Oulton Admission & Marketing Team - Sebastien Soucy

Sebastien Soucy

Marketing Coordinator & Community Engagement Officer

T: 1-888-757-2020 ext. 166
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Amanda Mattinson

Admissions Coordinator

T: 1-888-757-2020 ext 110
Email