Employers who invest in training reap the rewards

Training a registered dispensing optician (DO) brings expert care and professional standards of service into your business – boosting your reputation and aiding staff retention. 

The FBDO course (Fellowship of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians) takes three years and is a Level 6 qualification, allowing successful candidates to register with the General Optical Council (GOC).

It’s not just the student who benefits. There are opportunities to develop your existing DOs, contact lens opticians (CLO) or optometrists, acting as practice education leads or practice task supervisors. 

They support the student to complete 32 weekly assignments online – set tasks to be completed in practice. Supervisors or leads offer training and assessment of practical skills but also offer pastoral support and guidance, developing their management abilities.

Student DOs also sit external professional exams and attend two block release periods a year at ABDO College, each of one week. 

Supporting your staff to become registered DOs brings a range of benefits:

Patient satisfaction DOs provide tailored advice for spectacle lenses and frames, matching them to the patient’s measurements, lifestyle and job.

Efficiency A qualified DO increases the level of professional competence. There will be fewer errors in prescription dispensing, as well as increased sales through quality service.

Compliance DOs ensure that all dispensing complies with optical, consumer and health regulations, providing legal protection for the practice and safety for the patient.

Specialist skills DOs can manage areas including children’s eyewear, low vision aids, and, with further training, contact lens fitting and minor eye condition services (MECS).

Leadership DOs can take on leadership roles, mentoring optical assistants, managing inventory and practice operations. 

• For further details, see FBDO diploma
• There’s another way to develop your own DOs, the newer apprenticeship route. This also takes three years – find out more here