Apprentice Optical Assistant

This vacancy is for an Apprentice Optical Assistant based in Earl Shilton, Leicester.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to undertake valuable work experience within Aspire Optics Ltd supporting day to day tasks whilst gaining on the job qualifications.

Wage: £13,312 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)
Hours: 9am to 5:30pm, 30-minute break 32-hours per week, over 4 days. Days will be confirmed on interview. This will include some weekends depending on the practice. Standing for extended periods.

32 hours a week
Start date: Monday 31 August 2026
Duration: 1 year 6 months
Positions available: 1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work
Optical Assistant - Reporting to: Practice Manager/Optometrist.

Job Summary:
An Optical Assistant provides excellent customer service while supporting the day-to-day operations of an optical practice. They assist patients in selecting eyewear, perform basic optical measurements, schedule appointments, and ensure a smooth patient experience from arrival to collection of their glasses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Welcome patients and provide exceptional customer service
• Assist customers in choosing frames and lenses based on their prescription, lifestyle, and budget
• Take accurate measurements, including pupillary distance (PD) and frame fitting
• Adjust, repair, and fit spectacles for patient comfort
• Explain lens options, coatings, and pricing to customers
• Process sales transactions and maintain accurate records
• Book and manage appointments for eye examinations
• Handle telephone and email enquiries professionally
• Maintain stock levels and merchandise displays
• Support optometrists and dispensing opticians with administrative tasks
• Ensure the practice remains clean, organised, and compliant with health and safety standards
• Working closely with patients and healthcare professionals

Where you'll work
7-9 Wood Street
Earl Shilton
Leicester
LE9 7NE

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider
TRAINING 2000 LIMITED

Training course
Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn
Course contents

• Deliver customer service which aligns with company values, beliefs and purposes
• Identify when and who to refer to when supervision is required such as ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing and collections of restricted categories
• Work within the limits of policies, procedures, and regulated activity such as GDPR, NHS, GOC, Health and Safety at Work and safeguarding
• Follow employer’s guidelines and expectations for presentation and team working
• Identify and meet customer needs within the optical environment
• Communicate with customers and the optical team to maximise understanding
• Refer customers needing communication support such as language, hearing, visual or learning difficulties to appropriate services
• Follow health and safety legislation in the optical environment including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control
• Follow safe use instructions when using optical equipment such as adjustment tools, screening equipment and measuring equipment
• Follow procedures and processes for first aid, accident and incident reporting or evacuations
• Provide the benefits and limitations of the different services (e.g. sight tests, contact lenses) and extended services (e.g. minor eye condition services, low vision services) to the customers within the optical environment
• Offer non-prescribed products such as contact lens solutions, common ophthalmic drops, ready readers, magnifiers, and other accessories to customers
• Select appointments, recall information, appointment types and exemptions on the employer’s system, and maintain accurate records, e.g. customer details
• Report and record ocular emergencies following correct employer procedures
• Accurately prepare clinical records for use following employer procedures
• Accurately complete customer pre-appointment procedures
• Use product tolerances to validate product accuracy
• Use lens measuring equipment to identify prescriptions and lens measurements
• Identify lens types using engravings such as progressive lenses and safety spectacles and remark lenses where required
• Interpret the spectacle prescription to identify a range of vision correction options suitable for the customer
• Offer suitable lens products to the customer based on customer needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
• Offer specialised products to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
• Offer suitable frames to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
• Identify frame fitting suitability including facial, frame and spectacle lens measurements required to process spectacle orders for the customer
• Process spectacle orders, payments and arrange collections, offering relevant promotions to the customer where appropriate
• Identify and check visual acuity for near vision spectacle, explaining adaption as required
• Fit spectacle frames through the use of questioning, measurements, and tools
• Use tools correctly to adjust frame without causing damage
• Provide advice and guidance on frame fitting, lens care and after sales service
• Identify guarantees and warranties of optical products and adhere to the legal requirements for consumers
• Manage customer concerns and or complaints in line with employer procedures
• Use problem solving techniques to identify concern and or complaint causes
• Communicate with customers to resolve concerns or complaints within the limits of their own authority
• Follow remake procedures
• Follow repair procedures
• Recognise and resolve customer complaints e.g. poor fitting, incorrect measurements, or offer alternative options in line with business requirements
• Participate in training and development activities to maintain own practice
• Participate in appraisal, obtain feedback, and use self-reflection to plan further development opportunities and identify available career opportunities to support progression
• Adapt approach for customers with ocular conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes
• Conduct screening using screening equipment and record accurate results
• Inform the patient about the equipment, processes and procedures used for screening
• Gain support or guidance from colleagues during screening when required
• Inform the patient that the tests check for medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes
• Demonstrate contact lens handling and insertion and removal to a patient
• Show the patient how to care for their lens
• Provide advice and guidance on cleaning of lenses and solution types
• Follow out of hours emergency procedures
• Recognise a customer’s ability to make an informed decision
• Tell the customer what the sight test includes and how it is carried out
• Work independently to plan and manage workload
• Assess and mitigate risk in patient’s home to ensure an appropriate eye test can be delivered
• Manage own wellbeing and resources
• Maintain team communications when working remotely
• Deliver customer service which aligns with company values, beliefs and purposes
• Identify when and who to refer to when supervision is required such as ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing and collections of restricted categories
• Work within the limits of policies, procedures, and regulated activity such as GDPR, NHS, GOC, Health and Safety at Work and safeguarding
• Follow employer’s guidelines and expectations for presentation and team working
• Identify and meet customer needs within the optical environment
• Communicate with customers and the optical team to maximise understanding
• Refer customers needing communication support such as language, hearing, visual or learning difficulties to appropriate services
• Follow health and safety legislation in the optical environment including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control
• Follow safe use instructions when using optical equipment such as adjustment tools, screening equipment and measuring equipment
• Follow procedures and processes for first aid, accident and incident reporting or evacuations
• Provide the benefits and limitations of the different services (e.g. sight tests, contact lenses) and extended services (e.g. minor eye condition services, low vision services) to the customers within the optical environment
• Offer non-prescribed products such as contact lens solutions, common ophthalmic drops, ready readers, magnifiers, and other accessories to customers
• Select appointments, recall information, appointment types and exemptions on the employer’s system, and maintain accurate records, e.g. customer details
• Report and record ocular emergencies following correct employer procedures
• Accurately prepare clinical records for use following employer procedures
• Accurately complete customer pre-appointment procedures
• Use product tolerances to validate product accuracy
• Use lens measuring equipment to identify prescriptions and lens measurements
• Identify lens types using engravings such as progressive lenses and safety spectacles and remark lenses where required
• Interpret the spectacle prescription to identify a range of vision correction options suitable for the customer
• Offer suitable lens products to the customer based on customer needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
• Offer specialised products to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
• Offer suitable frames to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
• Identify frame fitting suitability including facial, frame and spectacle lens measurements required to process spectacle orders for the customer
• Process spectacle orders, payments and arrange collections, offering relevant promotions to the customer where appropriate
• Identify and check visual acuity for near vision spectacle, explaining adaption as required
• Fit spectacle frames through the use of questioning, measurements, and tools
• Use tools correctly to adjust frame without causing damage
• Provide advice and guidance on frame fitting, lens care and after sales service
• Identify guarantees and warranties of