New BTEC for optical assistants
Jodie Glanville is the first person to complete the Specsavers BTEC Level 3
Specsavers has joined forces with educational firm Pearson to create a BTEC qualification to develop the skills of thousands of optical assistants (OAs) working in its community practices.
The new Pearson BTEC Level 3 certificate includes units from the existing Pearson BTEC Level 3 certificate for optometric clinical assistants and dispensing assistants. Learners choose additional units to fit their roles, providing a tailored learning experience.
Kirsteen Newman, Specsavers’ senior manager for dispensing and accredited training, said: “Our optical assistants provide an invaluable service in our practices, supporting customers, optometrists and colleagues, and this qualification will help them as their roles evolve as we serve our patients.
“We are passionate about changing lives, including those of our colleagues, by supporting their career development. We are proud to be working with Pearson to design and implement this new qualification, especially as it is not offered by any other provider.”
The training supports OAs to specialise in one of four key areas – dispensing, clinical technician, contact lens assistant or lab technician. Learners take core units in communication, principles of light and refractive errors.
They take four more units recommended for their role. They also have the option to continue their studies to gain additional qualifications.
Ms Newman said: “In a rapidly evolving sector marked by technological advancements and evolving practices, the role of the optical assistant is diversifying. We wanted flexibility for the expanding role of optical colleagues within Specsavers. Specsavers has put in place funding to secure access for this qualification for at least 3,000 of our colleagues over the next five years.
“The qualification can also be seen as a stepping-stone towards becoming a dispensing optician, with learners encouraged to advance to the regulated Level 4 BTEC, which is recognised by ABDO.
“This is supporting the development of the wider sector as well as making sure that Specsavers is fit for the future and primed to meet the changing needs of our patients.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson’s managing director of vocational qualifications and training, said: “We have a decades long history of developing our BTEC qualifications in partnership with employers to meet their current and future needs, and it was a pleasure to work with Specsavers on this exciting initiative.
“Students with a BTEC will demonstrate the high standards of knowledge, practical skills and understanding required for further study and employment – the Specsavers graduates are no exception, and we wish them the best of luck as they continue on their career path. I look forward to meeting one of them when I go to the optician in the future.”
Jodie Glanville, the first person to complete the new qualification, said: “I use the knowledge I gained completing the Cert 3 every day in my job – it makes me more confident in my role and my plans for the future.”
Jodie, who works at Specsavers Plymouth, plans to go on to the next level, Cert 4. She wants to encourage other assistants to take further qualifications: “No matter what you do you’re always going to have doubts in your mind, so it’s best to just jump in as you won’t regret it.”
Specsavers Plymouth optometrist director Helen Rixson added that the Cert 3 BTEC is a great training addition for colleagues, which benefits patients. “You could quantify it in a number of ways, anything from driving down remakes, better dispense measurements, to confidence in recommendations. Also being able to provide a clear career path for our colleagues.”