Optical professionals are not created equal. They have a wide range of qualifications, skills, and experience. From the chain store salesperson to the high-fashion boutique frame specialist to the under-appreciated lab technician, you will find a wide array of abilities that will greatly effect your customer’s satisfaction.  The educational and training requirements to hold these positions vary from state to state.  Some require an  apprenticeship followed by a rigorous licencing exam while others require no qualifications or experience.  Your customer may not know the value of a certification, but the quality of their patient experience will be greatly affected by the professionalism of the optician.

Public perception of the value of good service, educated staff, skilled technicians, and proper utilization of new technologies starts with the optical professionals putting value in them first.  Having a certified professional optician ensures that not only are they adept at their field, but are also up to date on current technologies and industry trends through their continuing education requirements. This ensures that your patients are receiving the best available service in the industry.

Technology in prescription lenses (as with technology in any industry) is changing and evolving very fast.  If you are not keeping your finger on the pulse, you can fall behind very quickly. I’ve witnessed this time and again in practices that fail to employ certified opticians and ultimately rely on outdated technology in their office. A certified optician ensures your practice is aware of  what’s new and is trained in the skills needed to utilize and fit these ever adapting and intelligent lens designs.

As an optician and educator, I am well aware that most of the continuing education classes geared towards opticians is heavily sponsored by vendors and manufacturers that are ultimately trying to sell you something.  It is difficult to be a  teacher in this industry who is unaffiliated and impartial. However I have a passion for the optical profession, and I feel that I can provide a service to other optical professionals that the industry is greatly lacking. I want to inspire other opticians to educate themselves on the ever evolving knowledge and technologies and to become true masters of their craft.  Our patients deserve nothing less.