Key information

  1. Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
  2. Reference: ST0383
  3. Version: 1.1
  4. Level: 3
  5. Typical duration to gateway: 18 months
  6. Typical EPA period: 3 months
  7. Maximum funding: £8000
  8. Route: Engineering and manufacturing
  9. Date updated: 02/04/2024
  10. Approved for delivery: 21 December 2016
  11. Lars code: 158
  12. EQA provider: Ofqual
  13. Example progression routes:
  14. Review: this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
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Apprenticeship summary

Overview of the role

Produce and repair finished, quality-assured spectacles.

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the healthcare manufacturing industry, including retailing through smaller independent practices and larger-scale multiple practices, and lens manufacturing sites. 

Prescription lenses and or complete optical devices are manufactured, supplied and fitted within this role using the information in the clinical prescription provided by optometrists.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to manufacture, repair and quality assure optical devices, spectacles and their component parts, optical frames and lenses to the prescription information provided by clinical optometrists, ophthalmologists and or dispensing opticians.

Spectacle Technicians need to be able to interpret clinical prescriptions and spectacle orders, identify lens and frame materials and their handling characteristics, produce optical devices according to the clinical prescription, understand quality assurance processes and standards, maintain equipment and ensure a safe working environment, identify faults and repair and or replace component parts, work with colleagues and customers to resolve problems and technical issues. They need to also critically assess for errors or omissions and assess suitability before proceeding.

Spectacle Technicians may work in a variety of optical manufacturing environments. These can be in any or all of the following environments: lens prescription manufacturing to produce optical lenses to the required prescription information, lens coating and treatment manufacturing to apply coatings and treatments to optical lenses and or lens glazing and fitting to cut and assemble lenses and fit to spectacle frames.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation will interact with colleagues in the retail or manufacturing operation where they work. This would involve team members in the same organisation, workplace for example: opticians, dispensing colleagues, stock room operative, quality assurance operative, managers or supervisors they report to, other external suppliers and their customers.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for:

  • managing a safe working environment for self and colleagues
  • accurately interpreting the order and selecting the correct component parts for manufacturing 
  • using an extensive range of technical equipment to produce optical devices accurately and to industry and international quality standards
  • independently resolving technical issues and quality problems
  • managing time and resources efficiently
  • maintaining and calibrating equipment and tools according to suppliers’ specific tolerances
  • managing effective waste disposal processes to prevent environmental impact

 

Typical job titles include:

Coating technician Glazing technician Lens manufacturing technician Ophthalmic laboratory technician Optical laboratory technician Optical technician Spectacle maker

Duties

  • Duty 1 Order, stock and manage component parts and or products used for manufacturing, using clinical prescription details or order information to accurately process into production and or on to the customer.
  • Duty 2 Act within agreed ways of working following relevant national and local standards, policies and standard operating procedures in the workplace.
  • Duty 3 Maintain the health, safety and security of yourself, customers and others in the workplace by identifying risks and hazards and taking appropriate action to keep people safe.
  • Duty 4 Maintain environmental awareness for the effective disposal of waste from the production process.
  • Duty 5 Conduct maintenance and calibration to equipment and tools as required, referring to suppliers’ guidelines and company procedures.
  • Duty 6 Prepare, organise and quality assess appropriate component parts as required before they enter the manufacturing process, ensuring they are fit for purpose and meet industry and national tolerances and quality standards.
  • Duty 7 Use prepared component parts to produce the optical device using correct machinery and tools required for each process or product
  • Duty 8 Undertake the necessary quality checks to ensure that the devices and or components meet the required quality standards.
  • Duty 9 Package and dispatch products to customers.
  • Duty 10 Monitor and report any issues relating to manufacturing equipment, products, tools, consumables or processes to the relevant colleagues, suppliers or companies.
  • Duty 11 Work with colleagues and customers to resolve problems and technical issues, supporting continuous improvement in your role.
  • Duty 12 Meet personal and business targets and goals on an ongoing basis.

Apprenticeship summary

ST0383, spectacle technician level 3

This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.

What is an end-point assessment and why it happens

An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.

Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.

The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

  • fail
  • pass
  • merit
  • distinction

When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.

EPA gateway

The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.

The gateway requirements for your EPA are:

  • achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules
  • for the interview underpinned by portfolio of evidence, you must submit a portfolio of evidence

Assessment methods


Practical tasks with questions

You will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 2 hours. They will ask you at least 4 questions.


Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

You will have an interview with an independent assessor. It will last at least 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 6 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.


Multiple-choice test

You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials.

The test will have 45 multiple-choice questions. You will have 75 minutes to complete it.


The EPAO will confirm where and when each assessment method will take place.

Who to contact for help or more information

You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.

You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.

You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.


Reasonable adjustments

If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.

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Employers involved in creating the standard: Specsavers, The Worshipful Company of spectacle makers, Shepshed Optic Ltd, Boots, Waterside Laboratories Ltd, Spec-Care Ltd, Anglo Italian Optical Ltd, BBGR Optical, Training 2000, ABDO College and Highfield College.

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.1 Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised. 01/04/2024 Not set
1.0 Approved for delivery 21/12/2016 31/03/2024

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