Are Opticians (lower tier/non-mangerial) not appreciated enough ?

[Optician1234]

Does anyone else agree that opticians are not compensated enough for what they do on a daily basis?

An ABO certification (as I have learned with my own ABO certification) seems to be really only useful for landing a job; or being held in higher regard as a new-hire compared to someone who is NOT certified.

In no way does an ABO certification guarantee higher salary -- but it should!

I guess the only option would be to formalize the optician career with creating mandatory formal schooling. The optician seems to be tantamount to the dental hygienist career or nurse or medical assistant <--- all three of which are guaranteed better salaries than an ABO certified optician. Some of you may say "well, then just become an OD!" <--- Well, what if I just like the position of the "optician" better ?

The only option for an Optician to create a more lucrative opportunity for themselves is to become part of management or start their own business, both of which are good options, but that still doesn't explain why a non-manger optician is not guaranteed a good medical-field salary....

[erichwmack]

Yes a dental hygienist will make much more $ typically. But I think that it gross work personally. But dentistry is a much more lucrative field that optometry now-a-days (Im sure people are going to argue that but I have a dentist in the family and I have worked and managed OD offices for 7 years, I do have some knowledge on both subjects) So a higher revenue industry usually equates to higher line-level employees. Optometry has been diluted somewhat by managed health plans, extreme competition in the eyecare and eyewear industry, and poor board representation (ie: some states allow OD to perform LASIK but most don't, MD's fight like crazy to prevent this). When an industry is bootstrapped then it cant afford to pay opticians higher wages. It doesn't make business sense. You must expand your skills and knowledge into management/ownership to make a comfortable living in this field IMO. And thats not a bad thing, all are useful and satisfying experiences.

[wmcdonald]

A medical assistant is ill-defined, just like an Optician. Some states requires Opticians to have some minimal background, while others a pulse. People are often offended here when I say this, but the ABO is very basic and a poor measure of anything. If that is a national standard, then we have no place to go but up. Nurses and Dental Hygienists long ago passed us up. There is no comparison to what a typical Optician does to the advanced things RNs, and even some LPNs do every day. The typical Optician takes a PD, measures a seg height and takes the money when the order is complete. They have little understanding of how the Rx affects the visual system and it is a shame. It is not their fault, however, but the fault of a continually declining system that has failed them. An example. I was recently asked for help from a couple of folks who has been unable to pass the boards in my state. Granted NC has a very rigorous board, but still they had multiple attempts and after their 3.5- 4 year "apprenticeship" and internship training program and completion of a 6-course certificate at Durham Tech could not understand basic optical principles. Their supervising Optician long ago forgot that kind of stuff since they rarely use it they indicated. You get the picture.

Now, they can go over to Alabama, and as long as sales are good (it makes little difference if they understand the affect of what they are selling/recommending) they are the top dogs! Alabama like 26 other states requires no license. Now, are there knowledge Opticians there? I am sure there are. I am sure most think they are. I have never met one who thought they were not, until they were asked a simple question and could not solve it.

So, until Opticians wake up, and there are several of us who have taken a lot of heat for trying to tell them this for years (and you will see some of that in the responses to this post very soon) and have mandated formal education that provides common ground across the nation, and licensure in every state we will continue to decline. We must also seek to expand what we do beyond that simple PD and seg height. We can do more, and should, but the vision has to be more than mine, or Roy, or Duffy, or any individual. It has to be all moving towards the same goal. Is licensure realistic? Probably not. It is probably too late for what used to be a valiant profession, but I continue to hope for the best.

You asked a question about the level of appreciation of the American Optician. I just may be equal to the amount of dues we pay to enter the field, don't you think? If you really look at income, the average Optician in this country makes about 40K, and managing Opticians much more, with high school diplomas being the major level of education. Similar, if not more, to teachers. We have to get real about ourselves to improve. But think about this. About a third have Associate Degree, and/or 2-years of college of some sort. 16% a 4-year degree and 5% a grad degree. Man, if we just start to establish some standards we could really improve the field as a whole and move us forward. Then if we found some common ground......just maybe, we could start to move forward slowly rather than decline for a change.

[Optician1234]

A medical assistant is ill-defined, just like an Optician. Some states requires Opticians to have some minimal background, while others a pulse. People are often offended here when I say this, but the ABO is very basic and a poor measure of anything. If that is a national standard, then we have no place to go but up. Nurses and Dental Hygienists long ago passed us up. There is no comparison to what a typical Optician does to the advanced things RNs, and even some LPNs do every day. The typical Optician takes a PD, measures a seg height and takes the money when the order is complete. They have little understanding of how the Rx affects the visual system and it is a shame. It is not their fault, however, but the fault of a continually declining system that has failed them. An example. I was recently asked for help from a couple of folks who has been unable to pass the boards in my state. Granted NC has a very rigorous board, but still they had multiple attempts and after their 3.5- 4 year "apprenticeship" and internship training program and completion of a 6-course certificate at Durham Tech could not understand basic optical principles. Their supervising Optician long ago forgot that kind of stuff since they rarely use it they indicated. You get the picture.

Now, they can go over to Alabama, and as long as sales are good (it makes little difference if they understand the affect of what they are selling/recommending) they are the top dogs! Alabama like 26 other states requires no license. Now, are there knowledge Opticians there? I am sure there are. I am sure most think they are. I have never met one who thought they were not, until they were asked a simple question and could not solve it.

So, until Opticians wake up, and there are several of us who have taken a lot of heat for trying to tell them this for years (and you will see some of that in the responses to this post very soon) and have mandated formal education that provides common ground across the nation, and licensure in every state we will continue to decline. We must also seek to expand what we do beyond that simple PD and seg height. We can do more, and should, but the vision has to be more than mine, or Roy, or Duffy, or any individual. It has to be all moving towards the same goal. Is licensure realistic? Probably not. It is probably too late for what used to be a valiant profession, but I continue to hope for the best.

You asked a question about the level of appreciation of the American Optician. I just may be equal to the amount of dues we pay to enter the field, don't you think? If you really look at income, the average Optician in this country makes about 40K, and managing Opticians much more, with high school diplomas being the major level of education. Similar, if not more, to teachers. We have to get real about ourselves to improve. But think about this. About a third have Associate Degree, and/or 2-years of college of some sort. 16% a 4-year degree and 5% a grad degree. Man, if we just start to establish some standards we could really improve the field as a whole and move us forward. Then if we found some common ground......just maybe, we could start to move forward slowly rather than decline for a change.

Wow, great and informative response.

I also believe that the ABO is basically useless.

[Judy Canty]

Does anyone else agree that opticians are not compensated enough for what they do on a daily basis?

An ABO certification (as I have learned with my own ABO certification) seems to be really only useful for landing a job; or being held in higher regard as a new-hire compared to someone who is NOT certified.

In no way does an ABO certification guarantee higher salary -- but it should!

I guess the only option would be to formalize the optician career with creating mandatory formal schooling. The optician seems to be tantamount to the dental hygienist career or nurse or medical assistant <--- all three of which are guaranteed better salaries than an ABO certified optician. Some of you may say "well, then just become an OD!" <--- Well, what if I just like the position of the "optician" better ?

The only option for an Optician to create a more lucrative opportunity for themselves is to become part of management or start their own business, both of which are good options, but that still doesn't explain why a non-manger optician is not guaranteed a good medical-field salary....

So what's stopping you from attaining a degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing? There are some excellent distance ed programs available just a mouse click (or two) away.

[wmcdonald]

The ABO is not really useless, but just a very basic exam. To prove the point that we are declining, the pass rates for this exam used to be in the 65-75% range, and was always higher than the NCLE. Now it is the opposite. Those who take the NCLE have been doing better in comparison, and the average pass rates for the ABO is around 55%. A good measure should be around 2/3 passing on the first round. Any less and either the test is too tough, which in this case is out of the question, or training and education is lacking. In this case, since there is little to no education, we know the problem. The NCLE folks are more serious about it. Another issue.....the ABO/NCLE board, in their all-knowing wisdom decided to eliminate any requirements to take this exam at all. No education, no experience.......nothing, except for a check that clears. The pass rates then declined, but the bank balanced went up! They have finally reversed that I understand. I wish they would take some of the millions they have and fund the star-up of some new schools.

[Johns]

Compensation is directly linked to the value the optician brings to the workplace.

[braheem24]

I've been looking for an optician for 4 months, 20 years of experience doing the same thing you learned at year 1 for 19 years does not cut it. The abo is not tough enough.

I'm offering 50% above average pay in a licensed state and still can't find the help I need.

[Johns]

I'm offering 50% above average pay in a licensed state and still can't find the help I need.

Tell me about it! You should see what I've had to settle for at one of my offices...should I hire the girl w/3 DUI's, or the girl w/the assault charge against her ex-husband. But they ARE licensed, so the must be good. (For the record, I went w/the girl w/the DUIs, and she lasted 4 days.)

[braheem24]

Tell me about it! You should see what I've had to settle for at one of my offices...should I hire the girl w/3 DUI's, or the girl w/the assault charge against her ex-husband. But they ARE licensed, so the must be good. (For the record, I went w/the girl w/the DUIs, and she lasted 4 days.)

I could've broke that one down for you,

DUI = Wants to escape reality.

Assault charges = Anger which is a tool used by most over achievers.

YOU LET A WINNER GET AWAY

[Craig]

Compensation is directly linked to the value the optician brings to the workplace.

Thank You for the reason of sanity. Most employees need to realize the only thing holding them back is themselves and it has nothing to do with a degree or a bunch of letters behind your name.

One of my long time p-t employees- over 13 years while raising family- now works at a medically based OD practice a few miles from me and has shown them the way. The last optician also worked for me but only lasted one week and went to work for this OD 7 ish years ago. She quit when when she felt threatened by the new person and now my friend of 13 years has increased the sales in the optical by over $10,000 per month. They are almost all insurance but she services the client with respect and feels they all deserve the best work possible.
I just told her that she should be paid $10 more per hour than any other employee!! At first she did not believe me but after I showed her the math it made sense. She is not paid that much more but she does make more than anyone else and she deserves it.

I went over to see her yesterday and met the OD who kept telling me how thrilled he was to have her on his team. This is a typical nice guy OD who works in a dark room all day and now has seen the light in his optical. I actually just sold them 150 frames that we needed to move and they got for a bargain.

The doctor was also very pleased that she was able to bring him the frames at a great price because of her good relationship with a previous employer. We refer all insurance work to them and they send us all the folks who want really different glasses.

I hope my kids take responsibility for the salary they receive in life as it will ultimately be their decision just like any employee who strives to be the best at what they do.

Craig

[CNG]

Extra education without extra earnings...a hard sell. Extra education to keep our jobs a required expense. Extra education to enter the field and reduce the pool of applicants and practitioners...
a blessing for the ones that have their license but a burden for those that do not.

CNG

[Stan Tabor]

Does anyone else agree that opticians are not compensated enough for what they do on a daily basis?

An ABO certification (as I have learned with my own ABO certification) seems to be really only useful for landing a job; or being held in higher regard as a new-hire compared to someone who is NOT certified.

In no way does an ABO certification guarantee higher salary -- but it should!

Maybe holding an ABO will help you get the job, but it is how you apply your skills as an ABO and contribute to your employers business will dictate how much you make. ABO is a vehicle to 1) show you are serious about your career, 2) continue to develop your skills, 3) apply those skills for the benefit of the practice you work for, 4) distinguish yourself as a professional who is recognized by your colleagues and customers for your knowledge, expertise, and ability to provide superior services.

If you find the right employer, they will compensate you fairly for your skills. If you have business skills, you may leverage this into an opportunity to own or co-own your own business.

[wmcdonald]

Extra education without extra earnings...a hard sell. Extra education to keep our jobs a required expense. Extra education to enter the field and reduce the pool of applicants and practitioners...
a blessing for the ones that have their license but a burden for those that do not.

CNG

Here we go, I knew it was coming..........when you wanted to drive, did you get a car and then learn to drive? Of course not! You had to take a driving course, get the license and then drive. Except probably in Texas......I am sure George has some exception! The early ODs said the same......if we can't get paid for the education, then why get it? Well now they understand. It takes a while, but they understand, and Opticians will as well if they listen and move. For Opticians to advance, we must do more, and to do more, we mist learn more. To tell you the truth, many of those I interact with know very little optics in the first place, which is a shame. We continue to dumb down this field every generation. It is very easy for guys like the one I quote here to be against something, but have you ever heard one of them come up with any idea to improve things? Of course not. They are myopic with vision that ends with their weekly paycheck, or with their own personal business. It has to be about more than personal interests.

As to the pool of applicants. We now largely have second-income folks, mostly female (nothing at all wrong with that, by the way) that enter the field for extra money, not as a professional endeavor. I, for on, want to see us attract the kind of people who see this field in a professional light, male or female. One who can really solve the problems people face when they come in, which requires professional level preparation. I want to see people who can advance beyond taking PDs and Seg Heights. I have a vision. What do you offer besides a negative comment? Consider all other health-related fields, and you will clearly see, we have been left behind thanks to not a lack of collective vision like the comment above. We can do more, and be more........if we wish to do so, but it takes leadership. Not the kind of myopic BS we've experienced in the past, but new, fresh ideas to make the Optician of the future more than an order clerk. My time is close to an end. Why do I care? I often ask myself that same question, because I know I will get a lot of negative comments here. But you know......I have changed many over the years. My dear friend Harry Jilson is a great example. I loved Harry, and we lost him recently, but he sat with my colleague Dr. Ferguson and I and challenged us for hours some years back. Finally he understood and became our biggest ally. In my heart, I believe the real reason so many fear this kind of required education is because they may feel some what "less than" because they were trained in an apprenticeship and lack a formal education. They feel we are attacking them, personally, and that is just not the case. It is not about them, but the future. We do not want to make anyone already here do anything, but want to begin stiffening the requirements to enter the field. Will it reduce the applicant pool to work at Lenscrafters and other Luxottica locations? Of course. Will it reduce Walmarts pool? Yes. But the same is true for Pharmacy, and they seem to do just fine. But no matter how you were trained and educated, the field has to evolve or die. If this one does not, the profession that I have loved will die. I want it to be better tomorrow than it is today. WIll it cost money to go to school? Of course. WIll the graduate be better prepared? Of course, and patients will be far better served.

[Judy Canty]

I'd have hired assault charge girl. She KNEW what she was doing. 3 x DUI girl has a flat learning curve.

[MakeOptics]

More women in the workplace makes sense, traditionally you canhave a women working for significantly less the their comparably educated and trained male counterpart. Woman also are better at organization and exhibit transitional leadership skills in the workfor e which means better morale and better problem solving skills. It just so happens that women are also more.likely to be the household CEO with their significant other more likely the higher wage earner so women are more likely part time then full time.

All these traits benefit the business in labor costs and productivity while artificially keep wages low. I have also noticed women are less likely to ask for a.raise.or even cost of living increase, they are better at budgeting the money they do.make.which also benefits the business. If you ask me a.pretty young women managing an optical may no be PC but it sure.does.make.business sense. Sorry for all the periods, hard.to type.on a phone.

[lightbender27]

I think it depends. I'm an optician with over 10 years and I command the exact same salary as someone with the same amount under their belt with an ABOC. Sometimes experience counts for more than formal training, don't take that to mean that you shouldn't pursue an ABOC. Case in point, I was chosen over a candidate with 10 years and an ABOC. I'm not management, and frankly I don't want to be. I may still never get my ABO because I would like to switch fields someday, however, if this were my PASSION, I would.

Newer folks to the field are under appreciated I think but I have rarely seen these people have good optical training. That is the scary part.

[Golfnorth]

Tell me about it! You should see what I've had to settle for at one of my offices...should I hire the girl w/3 DUI's, or the girl w/the assault charge against her ex-husband. But they ARE licensed, so the must be good. (For the record, I went w/the girl w/the DUIs, and she lasted 4 days.)

Yes and I know why she didn't last because somewhere in the world it's cocktail hour!

[davelp]

Doctors are wanting to hire experience at starting pay prices, I started as an apprentice 27 years ago, am ABO certified, can run an edger, generate lenses ,sell glasses do repairs and when I got laid off from a wholesale lab in 2009, one guy offered me ( with a straight face) 10 bucks and hour and no benefits, another had no problem with paying me well enough but (also with a straight face) said that all his other employee's got insurance thru their spouses. Is it to much to expect to make a living wage and get insurance? Ophthalmic Techs are apparently thought of as more valuable, I've never seen a experienced one not have their skills valued , I think Doctors just have contempt for Opticians in general.

[tx11]

Thank You for the reason of sanity. Most employees need to realize the only thing holding them back is themselves and it has nothing to do with a degree or a bunch of letters behind your name.

One of my long time p-t employees- over 13 years while raising family- now works at a medically based OD practice a few miles from me and has shown them the way. The last optician also worked for me but only lasted one week and went to work for this OD 7 ish years ago. She quit when when she felt threatened by the new person and now my friend of 13 years has increased the sales in the optical by over $10,000 per month. They are almost all insurance but she services the client with respect and feels they all deserve the best work possible.
I just told her that she should be paid $10 more per hour than any other employee!! At first she did not believe me but after I showed her the math it made sense. She is not paid that much more but she does make more than anyone else and she deserves it.

I went over to see her yesterday and met the OD who kept telling me how thrilled he was to have her on his team. This is a typical nice guy OD who works in a dark room all day and now has seen the light in his optical. I actually just sold them 150 frames that we needed to move and they got for a bargain.

The doctor was also very pleased that she was able to bring him the frames at a great price because of her good relationship with a previous employer. We refer all insurance work to them and they send us all the folks who want really different glasses.

I hope my kids take responsibility for the salary they receive in life as it will ultimately be their decision just like any employee who strives to be the best at what they do.

Craig

BESIDES REVENUE (which can come from somebody who doesn't know much optics at all) What "skills" do you think an employer should value in a certified optician?

[kentmitchell1961]

I work at a private practice full time, I bring in 60+% of overall revenue (and profits), I am the lowest paid person here and am told that unless I do better there will be no raise of income. So I have to work part time at a chain optical to cover my bills. I studied long and still do to be recognized as one of the best in the state. So while I really wish to remain in this field, I don't want to have to work 60-80 hours a week to pay the bills. One of the reasons my wife and I have decided to return to the UK in the spring where if I stay in this field, cool, (so if anyone in the UK is looking for someone let me know).

[lightbender27]

Skills? My answer would be the same.. erm, traits, you'd look for in any other employee.

Someone who is a good problem solver, a patient person (for dealing with the slower folks), honesty, if you make a mistake, admit it and move on. Someone who is passionate about what they do, takes pride in their work. Someone dependable.

[tx11]

Skills? My answer would be the same.. erm, traits, you'd look for in any other employee.

Someone who is a good problem solver, a patient person (for dealing with the slower folks), honesty, if you make a mistake, admit it and move on. Someone who is passionate about what they do, takes pride in their work. Someone dependable.

all of those traits are great...but would you pay a solid optician with those traits more than you would a non optician (salesperson) with the same traits. I guess the question really is are optical/ dispensing skills what is more important in opticianry or are sales skills (bottom line) whats more important.

[MakeOptics]

Bottom line if I had to choose one over the other sales skills can be taught optics and if they can't pick it up at least they made money during the ride.

[Craig]

BESIDES REVENUE (which can come from somebody who doesn't know much optics at all) What "skills" do you think an employer should value in a certified optician?

It is an overall package; but sales do run the business and that is not negative in any way. The best sales people also have the loyalist clients and that is from the confidence that the consumer can feel in the office while dealing with any staff member. You are only as strong as your weakest link and we do not pay any commissions so as to avoid "my client" it is the opposite here we always say anyone can take care of oyu.

I have one person who is our weakest sales person out of 5, but he is the best lab person and we love his dog. Value is a total package and includes willingness to work hours not in favor by others such as nights and weekends.

The most important overall factor is the ability to leave them in the store alone and know they are a professional who cares about doing the right thing at all times and we have very strict pricing so it is not a discount issue at any point. My staff has complete control to offer anything we would do for our best clients to anyone if they want to take on the decision or they can defer to me later.

Trust is number 1.