PACE NONCREDIT COURSE:
Optical Manager
Areas of Study
Course Type
Overview
Hours: 390 | CEUs: 39 | Duration: 18 months
In this online course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to become an optician and prepare for the Basic American Board of Opticianry (ABO) exams. This includes the NOCE (National Opticianry Competency Exam) and the CLRE (Contact Lens Registry Exam), required by many states to work as opticians or as a stepping-stone to career advancement.
You will learn how to read prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses, become familiar with the equipment opticians use, and understand eye anatomy and eye diseases. Additionally, you will learn various office responsibilities within an optometrist’s office, including bookkeeping, tracking inventory and sales, maintaining customer records (payments and prescriptions). This course also serves as preparation for the QuickBooks Certified User exam.
After successfully completing this course, you will possess the knowledge required to pass the American Board of Opticianry (ABO), National Opticianry Certification Exam (NOCE) exam, or Contact Lens Registry Exam (CLRE) to begin a career as an optician and have the skills and knowledge to advance as an optical manager in this popular and exciting medical field.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive vouchers to sit for the QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU) Exam and the Microsoft exams MO-200 and MO-201 (Excel) and MO-100 and MO-101 (Word). The voucher is prepaid access to sit for the certifying exam upon eligibility. Proctor fees may apply, which are not included.
Please note: We strongly recommend researching your state’s requirements before pursuing a career as an optician. For example, while some states only require a high school diploma or GED and passing score on the ABO exam to fulfill licensing requirements, others have their optician licensing exams. Additionally, some states may require that opticians complete an apprenticeship program or degree program to become licensed.
Key Concepts
Curriculum
- Optician Certification Training
- What Is an Optician?
- Preparing for the NOCE and CLRE
- The Parts of the Eye
- Simple Math and Algebra Concepts for Opticians
- Light, Prentice’s Rule, and Abbe values
- Ophthalmic Lens Designs
- Refractive Errors
- The Spectacle or Glasses Prescription
- Lens Materials and Treatments
- Effective Power and Compensated Power Calculations
- All About Frames
- Frame Adjustment Basics and Dispensing
- Lensometry, Measurement Devices, and Multifocal Lens Considerations
- Prisms and Decentration
- Midterm Exam
- Keratometry and Corneal Topography
- Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines
- Contact Lens Prefitting
- Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy
- Soft Contact Lenses
- Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses
- Hybrid and Scleral Lenses
- Orthokeratology and Keratoconus
- Contact Lens-Related Conditions and Pathology
- Ocular Pathology and Systemic Conditions That Affect the Eyes
- Optician Review
- Final Exam (Cumulative)
- Optional Career Roadmap Lesson
- Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks Online
- Introduction to Bookkeeping
- Accounting Basics
- Getting Started With QuickBooks Online
- The Chart of Accounts
- Centers and Lists
- Bank Accounts
- Recording Expenses and Paying Bills
- Credit Cards and Loans
- Sales Receipts
- Invoices, Estimates, and Customizing Sales Forms
- Billable Expenses and Customer Credits
- Sales Taxes and Reports
- Midterm Exam
- Product and Service Items
- Managing Inventory
- Managing Projects and Sales
- Progress Invoicing, Late Fees, and Bad Debts
- Payroll
- Fixed Assets and Loans
- Business Entities and Owner Transactions
- Banking Rules, Receipts, and Budgets
- Adjusting and Reviewing the Books
- Starting a Bookkeeping Business
- Your Career Roadmap: The Job Search and Future Opportunities (Optional Lesson)
- Communication and Organization (Optional Lesson)
- Microsoft Word
- Introduction to Microsoft Word
- Creating a Microsoft Word Document
- The Ribbon
- The File Tab
- The Quick Access Toolbar
- Formatting Microsoft Word Documents
- Editing Documents
- Finalizing Microsoft Word Documents
- Introduction to Microsoft Word Exam
- Intermediate Microsoft Word
- Advanced Formatting
- Working with Tables
- Working with Images
- Page Layout
- Working with Illustrations
- Viewing Your Document(s)
- Intermediate Microsoft Word Exam
- Advanced Microsoft Word
- Working with Long Documents
- Reviewing and Collaborating on Documents
- Comparing and Combining Documents
- Managing Mailings
- Protecting Documents
- Random Useful Items
- Advanced Microsoft Word Exam
- Microsoft Word Final Exam
- Introduction to Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Introduction to Microsoft Excel
- Creating a Microsoft Excel Workbook
- The Ribbon
- The Backstage View (The File Menu)
- Entering Data in Microsoft Excel Worksheets
- Formatting Microsoft Excel Worksheets
- Using Formulas in Microsoft Excel
- Working with Rows and Columns
- Editing Worksheets
- Finalizing Microsoft Excel Worksheets
- Introduction to Microsoft Excel Exam
- Intermediate Microsoft Excel
- Advanced Formulas
- Working with Lists
- Working with Illustrations
- Visualizing Your Data
- Working with Tables
- Advanced Formatting
- Intermediate Microsoft Excel Exam
- Advanced Microsoft Excel
- Using Pivot Tables
- Auditing Worksheets
- Data Tools
- Working with Others
- Recording and Using Macros
- Random Useful Items
- Advanced Microsoft Excel Exam
- Microsoft Excel Final Exam
- Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this course prepare for a certification?
Yes, you will be prepared to take the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) Basic certification exams – Opticianry Certification Exam (NOCE) and Contact Lens Registry Exam (CLRE). Upon completion of this course, you’ll be prepared to begin a career as an optician. You will also be prepared for the Intuit QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU) exam and the Microsoft exams MO-200 and MO-201 (Excel) and MO-100 and MO-101 (Word).
What is an optical manager?
Optical managers are professionals who oversee the everyday operations of an optometrist’s office. You would most likely have a mix of administrative and eye care duties that you would perform every day in this position. For example, you would maintain all the responsibilities of an optician, such as the managerial duties, including hiring and training other office staff, managing inventory, maintaining patient records, processing billing statements and insurance claims, adjusting and repairing eyeglasses, and other similar tasks.
How much do optical managers earn?
According to salary.com, optical managers earn an average salary of $23 per hour, equating to $47,840 per year. Additionally, Glassdoor.com uses self-reported salaries of optical managers and reports a nationwide annual average wage of $49,722.
What makes a good optical manager?
To be a good optical manager, you will need to multitask as your workday will include a mix of management and optician duties. You must have good communication skills and be flexible with the ability to inspire and motivate others. You will be responsible for working with customers and helping resolve any complaints, so you need to remain calm in a potentially stressful situation. You will also need to be objective, detail-oriented, data-minded, and results-driven. Finally, you will need to be dependable and possess the ability to delegate tasks to others on your team.
How do I become an optical manger?
The first step to becoming an optical manager is becoming an optician. You’ll then need to gain some experience in an optometrist’s office before you can advance into an optical manager role.
How does this course prepare me to become an optician?
By taking this course, you will learn how to read prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses, become familiar with the equipment opticians use, and gain an understanding of eye anatomy and eye diseases. You will also learn various office responsibilities within an optometrist’s office, including bookkeeping, tracking inventory and sales, and maintaining customer records (including payments and prescriptions).
After completing this course, you will be fully prepared to begin a career as an optician and have the skills and knowledge to advance as an optical manager in this popular and exciting medical field.
How much do opticians make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median salary for opticians is $38,530, with top professionals in this field making over $60,000 per year.
Can I register for a course if I am an international student?
Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country’s regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.
When can I start the course?
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
How long does it take to complete this course?
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you’ll receive eighteen (18) months to complete the course.
What if I don’t have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
What kind of support will I receive?
The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.
What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
Am I guaranteed a job?
This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
Can I get financial assistance?
This course is noncredit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.
How can I get more information about this course?
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the “Contact Us” form.
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Course Requirements
Requirements: Hardware Requirements: Software Requirements: Other: Instructional Material Requirements: The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following materials will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Optician Certification Training portion of the program: The following materials will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks Online portion of the program: Manuals are included as downloadable PDFs throughout the Microsoft portions of the course.
Course Prerequisites
Instructor(s):
Dr. Beverly Smith
Dr. Beverly Smith is a Doctor of Optometry and has been in private practice for more than 24 years. She also holds a Master of Business Administration and founded a consulting firm that helps new practitioners start and manage their own eye care practices. Throughout her career, Smith has taught many future opticians, certified paraoptometrics, and fellow optometrists. Her work has been published in the professional journals New O.D. and Women in Optometry.
Wade Lindenberger
Wade Lindenberger is a CPA with over 20 years of financial accounting and management experience in public accounting and the private industry. He is currently Director of Finance and Administration for New Children’s Museum. Before his current position, he worked as the National Finance and Accounting Service Line Leader for Premier Alliance Group, a national professional services firm. Wade was also Director of the Finance and Accounting service line for the San Diego office of a global, publicly held professional services firm.
Before becoming a consultant, Wade was Divisional Controller for one of the world’s leading health and fitness club chains and has been an Internal Audit Manager and Divisional Controller for a Fortune 500 global energy project management company. He began his career with Coopers & Lybrand, a predecessor to PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the “Big Four” CPA firms. He has previously served as an instructor at Coopers & Lybrand and the University of California at San Diego for the Extension Course. He is currently an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Business. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Bookkeepers’ Advisory Board.
Tracy Berry
Tracy Berry has been a senior graphic designer/programmer, instructor, and consultant since 1993 and has developed hundreds of logos, marketing materials, websites, and multimedia solutions for customers worldwide. She was also involved in several large corporate software rollouts. She has helped many organizations optimize and streamline data solutions and has her CTT (Certified Technical Trainer) certification. Tracy specializes in teaching both onsite and online graphics, desktop publishing, web design, and reporting/productivity applications courses.
