What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician?
What is your advice for someone working their way to become an Optician?Stay focused on the impact you’re able to have on your patients’ quality of life.
Why should anyone get certified/licensed?
The knowledge necessary to become certified or licensed serves to enable you to provide better service and care to your patients. Also, being certified or licensed increases your credibility in the eyes of your patients, and helps present a high standard of care in your office.
In your experience, what is the best way to prepare for an Opticianry test?
Study, study, and then, study some more! Seriously, it’s about knowing the subjects inside and out.
What do you remember as being a prominent part of the test or that you were surprised to see on the test?
Although not surprising, prism problems were definitely prominent.
How do you decide if an additional credential should be earned?
If there’s more available than I have, then I choose to earn them. I’ve gone as far as I can in optical (ABOM), and I’m currently working towards my NCLEM for contact lenses and Fellow of CLSA.
What was the point when you decided to attain your license/certification?
When I first entered the profession.
What do you feel is your strongest skill as an Optician?
People skills and technical optics.
What role have you held that best helped you to be the Optician you are today?
Training others!
What is your advice to someone who lacks sales skills or confidence?
Embrace what you do bring to the table, shadow more experienced colleagues, ask lots of questions, and give it time. Try not to compare yourself to others.
If you are no longer an Optician in the traditional sense on a daily basis, how did your Optician skills help you with what you’re doing now?
I have retired from private practice and now work as a college Professor, and technical education consultant for lens manufacturers. I would be unable to do what I do now, without the experience I gained during my 25 years of practicing.
Never let yourself become complacent. Always take pride in what you do, and always strive to provide the best service and care for your patients/customers.
Responses in this interview provided by Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLE-AC
Find Andrew online here:
ASB Opticianry Services
Andrew Bruce on LinkedIn
2 thoughts on “Becoming An Optician: Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLE-AC”
I’m so glad to see this post. I took one of the Uuniversity ABO prep courses he did for VSP. I had actually already passed the ABO, but used his careful instruction and patience as guide points to work with my apprentice optician through her journey to certification. He is a great optician ambassador.
Thank you for your kind words, Christine. I’m so glad that you found my course helpful. Best regards.