Produce and repair finished, quality-assured spectacles.
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:
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.
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:
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
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:
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.
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.
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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