Apprenticeship training course

Spectacle technician (level 3)

Produce and repair finished, quality-assured spectacles.

• Qualification level: 3 ; Equivalent to A level.
• Typical duration: 18 months
• Apprenticeship category: Engineering and manufacturing
• Maximum funding: £8,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Coating technician
  • Glazing technician
  • Lens manufacturing technician
  • Ophthalmic laboratory technician
  • Optical laboratory technician
  • Optical technician
  • Spectacle maker
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders for example, colleagues, managers and the public – verbal, written or electronic. Use industry terminology.
  • Identify hazards and risks in the workplace: PPE, COSHH, manual handling.
  • Use tools and equipment required to manufacture optical products: lenses, frames and, component parts.
  • Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, priority and environmental impact.
  • Calibrate and maintain optical equipment and tools to supplier guidelines and MDD specifications, such as blocker, tracer, lens curve generator, coating equipment or focimeter.
  • Apply quality assurance principles and procedures and record outcomes for completed orders.
  • Identify products, their classification and any impact on manufacturing or quality, for example engravings on safety glasses, and remarking progressives.
  • Monitor stock levels and rotate stock.
  • Collect and use data on productivity and quality to improve processes and staff training.
  • Prepare component parts for manufacturing or treatment.
  • Manufacture component parts to complete the manufacturing or treatment process.
  • Use information and digital technology. Comply with data protection, and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Apply standard operating procedures SOPs for optical products.
  • Apply repair practices and techniques to optical products.
  • Select tools and equipment to manufacture and repair optical products.
  • Plan work sequence to support the effective use of time and resources in the manufacturing process.
  • Produce customer orders from online, telephone and face to face requests.
  • Check and calibrate tools and equipment.
  • Interpret work instructions including optical prescriptions, and manufacturer’s guidance for component parts.
  • Conducts supplier and credit process.
  • Apply safe systems of work and control measures.

Full information on Spectacle technician (level 3) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Find training providers for this course

Apprenticeship location

Check if a provider can offer this training for the apprenticeship location.