Did you know!

Classes are offered for both years, 3 days per week (excluding Full time Summer Practicums).

1. The Douglas College Dispensing Optician program runs 10 months for first year and 9 months for second year.

2. If you complete your communication courses before beginning the program  you will lighten your load for the first year.

Dual Licensed Opticians earn more money.

3. Douglas College Optician graduates are sought after by employers. They are typically picked first over all the other school's graduates. 

4. In second year (semester 4, 5 & 6) you will have good employment opportunities.

The compressed full time program runs over three days giving you the rest of the week off to study and work.

The most needed days of work in our industry are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

5. If you perform well in your first practicum, you may be hired by your practicum supervisor. This will give you summer employment in the field. You may even be able to write your Board exams in June and be licensed for the fall work season, while working on your Contact Lens Fitting Diploma in Year 2.

They are typically picked first over all the other school's graduates.

The most unique part of the program is the labs and practicums.

6. Labs:

Our first year students work on lab projects for approximately 240 hours in supervised, state-of-the-art, labs.

Our second year students work on lab projects for approximatelly 240 hours. These labs consist of demonstrations, lectures and related assignments.

Direct student lab hours for both years is 480 hours.

7. Practicum on campus and off campus sites:

Our Douglas College sites are unique to our optical school. Practicum sites off campus have to be 
approved by our faculty, and all practicum supervisors must complete a training course to qualify them. 
        
The course for preceptors is available on campus or can be taught at their location. These sites are 
supervised by our faculty by weekly visits to each site. All students come back to campus regularly for 
debriefing and special seminars.

Eye glass practicum students fit eyeglasses on clients for a total of 210 hours of supervised off site work.

Contact Lenses Students:

In Year 2 (semester 4 & 5) the contact lens students work seeing patients/clients on campus and have one of their instructors supervise and advise on all patients/clients seen.

Students have 240 hours of patient contact. Semester 6 is the full time practicum off campus where students have 140 hours of patient contact and fitting for a total of 380 hours.

The amount of direct student fitting hours for both years is 710 hours.

8. Douglas College Optician grads usually find work in the field immediately or within 3 months of completion.

9. Acquiring both licenses, Eyeglass and Contact Lens, will allow you to work in variety of roles including: Dual Licensed Optician, Surgical Assistant, Management, Owner/Operator of your own business.

Reasons to become an Optician / Contact Lens Fitter at Douglas College:

1. Becoming an Optician/Contact Lens Fitter, Eye Care Professional will allow you to have two National Licences and be able to work anywhere in Canada except Quebec.

2. Douglas College is the only public college to offer the full time program West of Ontario. There are two Public Colleges in Ontario, one in Quebec, and Alberta has a paper based distance delivery program administered by our Canadian Association.

3. Douglas College is preparing to launch their own Distance Delivery program, in September 2009.

4. Opticianry offers a broad range of choices for our grads, self employment being one of the most attractive avenues they can pursue.

5. Our Grads can work in a variety of settings including private clinics for other Opticians, Optometrists offices,  Ophthalmologists offices, laser clinics, supplier representatives for Optical, contact lenses or solution suppliers, lab technicians, self employment.

6. Self employment opportunities are endless, partnering with an Optician nearing retirement, opening your own business as a full retail dispensary or a speciality clinic, or becoming a shareholder in one of the larger franchises or corporations.

7. Salary ranges for students graduated but still unlicensed in Contact Lenses start around $15.00 to $20.00 per hour.

Both licenses can demand more, depending on the individual's management and optical skills.

8. Dispensing Opticians/ Contact lens Fitters owning their own businesses can earn a $100,000 or more with good management and people skills if they pursue the niche markets.

Conditions for joining Douglas College Dispensing Optician Program:

9. Applicants who apply for our two year program need certain prerequisites to register; Math 11 with a C-, English 12 with a B, and proof of high school graduation.

Conclusion:

10. Douglas College has graduated about 200 students since it started the Dispensing Optician Program. Our alumni represent over 10% of the Optician work force in BC and growing.