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.

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