how to work in an optical store

[eyeluveyez]

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Hi I was wondering, from all the people who have been selected into optometry schools, they have worked in a optometry setting and I assume people who have been expose to the field has a higher chance of getting acceptance? I don't really know, you tell me..if working in an optical store will help me? Thanks.

How do I work in an optometry setting as a optician? do you have to be license?

 

[CanadianOpticia]

depends on the state or province you are in. Its regulated in some but not in others.

 

[Roffles]

Honestly, I would focus on shadowing or being a technician. That's what I did for a few summers. I not only learned a lot, I also increased chances of acceptance by showing that the field was really where I wanted to be. Shadowing in multiple offices and types of practices will help. Don't forget to hang out with an ophthalmologist or two!

 

[UCIspopbot]

In California you don't have to be licensed to be an optician, not to sure about the rest of the country but I've been working at my office for a year now. What everyone said is right about shadowing other optometrists first, specifically optometrists working in different settings like private practice vs retail.

To get hired, especially if you have absolutely no experience means you need ALOT of luck and one heck of a personality. I had no experience, but graduated form undergrad a quarter early and had a desire to learn which is what my pros were. I started out as a front desk in my office and circumstances pushed me to being an optician really quick. Having the job did help with my interviews and when I start school in the fall I'm sure having experience will help, especially with clerkship.

 

[Mewcakes]

I may or may not help you with admissions, but I personally think that as an optometry student, it REALLY helps to have the experiences that being optician gives you. When you're all done and graduated, you can hire a guy to do all the opticianry for you. But in school, you're that guy. At SCO, we take classes in spectacle production and we pretty much staff the optical year round. Many of my classmates don't have any experience as an optician and they get by, but they're usually not very comfortable working with glasses. You also will probably get a better feeling for the business aspect of optometry if you're working with glasses. That's something that many people don't consider when they think about optometry.

You can shadow at the same time as working part-time as an optician. I recommend try to if you can.