How to become an Optician
Also called: Contact lens optician, Dispensing optician, Refracting optician, Contact lens optician, Dispensing optician, Refracting optician
Optician designs, fits and dispenses optical lenses based on a prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist for the correction of reduced visual acuity. He/she services corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, low-vision aids and other optical devices.
Main tasks
- Examining and taking facial and eye measurements of clients for fitting of eyeglasses and other optical devices
- Providing advice to clients with selection and maintenance of eyeglasses and frames, types of contact lenses and other optical devices for performance, safety, comfort and lifestyle
- Interpreting optical prescriptions and preparing work order for optical laboratory for grinding and mounting of lenses in frames, preparation of contact lenses and other required work
- Verifying exactness of finished optical appliances and devices to the original prescription and fit of clients
How to become one
Optician is required to register with the Optometrists and Opticians Board (OOB) or its equivalent in order to practise in Singapore.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Work-study diploma. Related ITE work-study diplomas: Work-Study Diploma in Opticianry. You are employed by a company and study at ITE at the same time. Peernovo matched these from course names.
- Polytechnic or ITE: ITE course (Nitec or Higher Nitec). Related ITE courses: Higher Nitec in Opticianry. Peernovo matched these from course names; ITE does not publish which jobs each course leads to.; Polytechnic diploma. Related diplomas: Diploma in Optometry (Ngee Ann Polytechnic). Peernovo matched these from course names; polytechnics do not publish which jobs each course leads to.
- Licence or registration: Optometrists and opticians who serve the public must be registered with the Optometrists and Opticians Board and hold a valid practising certificate. Law: Optometrists and Opticians Act 2007. Regulator: Optometrists and Opticians Board (OOB) (https://www.oob.gov.sg).
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $52,284 a year. The middle half earn $49,176 to $61,092 a year.
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Optician?
Optician is required to register with the Optometrists and Opticians Board (OOB) or its equivalent in order to practise in Singapore.
How much does an Optician earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $52,284 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $49,176 to $61,092.
Will AI change the work of an Optician?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat): Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) 2024 (SSOC 2024 (definitions and index updated 2026-06-24)), Singapore Open Data Licence, retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026