Optician CV

How to Make an Optician CV: Examples and Writing Guide

The eye care industry is expanding, and employers are seeking opticians who can combine technical expertise with excellent interpersonal skills. A well-crafted modern CV doesn’t just list your experience; it shows how your customer service, communication, and clinical knowledge make you the right fit. 

An optical assistant CV should highlight transferable skills, while a dispensing optician CV needs to emphasise clinical expertise and patient care. In both cases, presenting your strengths clearly and using a professional CV template that balances clarity with style will maximise your chances of impressing hiring managers.

In this step-by-step guide, we help you:

• Structure your CV with essential sections such as contact details, skills and education.

• Write a personal profile that highlights both technical expertise and soft skills.

• Tailor your CV for target roles, ranging from retail assistant to experienced dispensing optician.

Streamline your CV writing process with CVMaker, featuring intuitive designs and advice on how to choose the best CV template. 

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Optician CV Example

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What to include in an optician CV?

To secure a role in eye care or retail optics, your optician CV should follow a precise and professional format. For best results, start by creating a master CV, a comprehensive document that records all your skills, qualifications, and achievements. You can then tailor it for each application.

Core sections to include are:

• Personal details: Full name, email address, phone number, and location.

• Personal statement: A summary showcasing your optical knowledge, customer service skills, and career goals.

• Work experience: Presented in reverse chronological order, detailing roles such as dispensing optician, optical assistant, or retail optician. Focus on achievements (e.g. increased lens sales, improved patient satisfaction).

• Education and training: List GCSEs and relevant courses, such as the Dispensing Optician course or specialist eye care training.

• Certifications and memberships: Include General Optical Council (GOC) membership or any additional qualifications.

• Skills section: Combine technical abilities (digital dispensing, frame adjustments, knowledge of eye conditions) with soft skills like communication and attention to detail.

• Additional sections: Languages, volunteering, or mentoring if relevant.

Learn more about relevant jobs in healthcare and medical sectors and explore CV examples for a GP and or an optometrist. 

Must-have CV sections

• Personal profile

• Skills section

• Work experience

• Education

Learn more about how to write a good CV.

Keywords to include in an optician CV

Optimise your CV for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruiter searches. Integrate CV keywords and phrases from the job description into your personal summary, work experience, and skills section.

How to list optician skills in a CV?

Your skills CV section is a crucial part of an optician CV, as it highlights both your technical precision in dispensing lenses and frames and your ability to deliver excellent client care.  Employers want to see not just your knowledge of eye health and optical products but also top soft skills, such as communication, interpersonal qualities, and attention to detail, so clients feel supported and confident in their eyewear choices.

Essential skills to include in an optician's CV

When hiring for optical roles, employers seek a combination of technical expertise and people-orientated skills. A strong optician CV should demonstrate the following:

1. Dispensing accuracy: The ability to take precise measurements (PD, heights, tilt, and vertex distance) and recommend the correct lenses and frames, thereby ensuring patient comfort and visual clarity.

2. Customer service and communication: Excellent interpersonal skills to explain optical products, reassure nervous patients, and provide tailored recommendations in a professional, approachable way.

3. Eye health knowledge: Understanding of eye conditions, prescriptions, and contact lens use, with the ability to give advice that supports overall eye care and long-term patient wellbeing.

4. Attention to detail: A meticulous approach to frame adjustments, lens fitting, and record-keeping, helping maintain accuracy and uphold GOC standards.

5. Teamwork and collaboration: Ability to work alongside optometrists, optical assistants, and retail staff to deliver a seamless service and meet business goals.

How to write a personal profile for an optician CV

Your CV personal profile is the first impression hiring managers have of you, so it needs to be concise, results-orientated, and reflective of both your clinical expertise and soft skills. 

Summarise your career goals, professional registration or qualifications, areas of optical expertise such as dispensing or contact lens fitting, your approach to patient care, and 2–3 soft skills like communication, attention to detail, or problem-solving that show how you add value in both clinical and retail environments.

Personal profile on a CV

Whether you are a student, a graduate, or a seasoned professional, a personal profile is essential for your CV when targeting the UK job market. This statement should grab the attention of employers and set you apart from other applicants.

Learn more about how to successfully pitch yourself in a personal profile.

If you are new to optics or transitioning into a new healthcare role, transferable skills can help bridge gaps in direct experience. For example:

• A healthcare or care assistant, or a social worker, highlights patient communication, empathy, and adaptability in fast-paced environments

• A retail or hospitality assistant may draw on customer service, sales, business development, and organisation skills to demonstrate suitability for optical dispensing.

For more guidance on starting a career, read our tips on getting more experience in healthcare or entering the workforce after graduation.

How to include relevant work experience for an optician CV 

The work experience section is where you show an employer not just what you’ve done, but the value you added. For an optician CV, it’s important to show both your clinical accuracy and your ability to work with computers and tech systems and complete general admin tasks. 

Write your jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent first), include CV action verbs and focus on including responsibilities highlighted in the job description.

What should each work experience entry include?

• Job title of current or previous role

• Organisation name and location

• Dates of employment (month/year)

• A concise paragraph detailing your duties

• Followed by 2–3 bullet points that highlight your key achievements or measurable impact.

Learn more about the work experience section in a CV.

Good versus bad achievement examples for work history

When describing achievements in a CV, avoid vague descriptions. Instead, highlight outcomes with numbers or evidence. Adding measurable impact is a more effective way to demonstrate what you’ve achieved.

Optician CV work experience examples 

Optical Assistant, Independent Opticians, Leeds, 2020–2022

Provided hands-on support to optometrists and dispensing opticians, carrying out pre-screening tests, updating patient records, and helping patients with frame and lens selection. Maintained high levels of accuracy when taking facial measurements and ensured excellent aftercare for contact lens patients. Contributed to smooth daily operations by managing bookings and supporting front-of-house customer service.

• Reduced waiting times by reorganising appointment scheduling, improving clinic flow by 15%

• Assisted with over 100 contact lens aftercare appointments, enhancing patient compliance with hygiene routines.

Dispensing Optician, VisionCare Practice, London, 2018–Present

Advise patients on prescription options, lens technology, and frame suitability to provide personalised solutions. Carry out precise measurements to ensure accuracy in lens fitting, and oversee aftercare to maintain patient comfort and satisfaction. Collaborate closely with optometrists to interpret prescriptions and address specific visual needs, from single-vision to progressive lenses. Responsible for mentoring junior staff and maintaining records in line with GOC standards.

• Dispensed over 500 pairs of lenses with less than 5% requiring remakes, thanks to attention to detail and accurate fitting

• Developed a patient recall system that improved repeat visits by 12%.

Dispensing Optician Manager, Optique Group, Birmingham, 2015–2018

Led a team of dispensing staff and optical assistants in a fast-paced practice, balancing clinical duties with management responsibilities. Oversaw training, compliance, and day-to-day operations, including patient flow, stock control, and customer service standards. Regularly advised patients on complex prescriptions and managed escalated queries with professionalism and care. Reported directly to the practice director on revenue, targets, and patient satisfaction levels.

• Increased revenue by 18% by introducing premium lens options and coaching staff on upselling

• Implemented a training programme for new assistants, cutting induction time by 30%.

Optician CV work experience example with little to no experience

Retail Assistant, High Street Opticians, Manchester, 2022 - present

Work in a busy retail optician setting, supporting both clinical and sales functions. Responsibilities include greeting patients, booking appointments, handling payments, and maintaining stock levels. Support dispensing opticians by preparing patients for eye tests and advising on eyewear options suited to lifestyle and budget.

• Assisted 20–30 customers daily with product enquiries and eyewear choices, maintaining high satisfaction scores

• Introduced a new stock rotation process that improved the visibility of premium frames and boosted sales by 8%.

Learn more about how to write a CV if you have little to no work experience.

How to include education on a CV for an optician 

Your CV education section should highlight the qualifications and training that make you eligible for a career in optics. Always list your education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. 

Employers will expect to see academic qualifications such as:

• Degree or Diploma – e.g., a recognised Dispensing Optician course

• A-Levels – Biology or Physics can be particularly relevant

• GCSEs – especially Maths, English, and Science

• Professional Memberships – registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) is essential for practising as a dispensing optician.

How to format educational qualifications

If you’re applying for your first job, are a student or a career changer, find voluntary or part-time jobs to build valuable skills relevant to an entry-level role in optics.

Learn more about how to write a CV for your first job.

Essentials for an optician CV and job application

When writing a good CV for a dispensing optician role, it is crucial to emphasise clinical skills, experience in eye care, and notable achievements in dispensing lenses or contact lenses. Tailor each application to the specific role, showcase measurable results, and maintain a professional layout. Pairing your CV with a tailored cover letter will improve your chances of landing a job interview. For more guidance, learn how to improve your CV with these 10 tips.

Dos and don’ts for a CV for an optician 

Next steps?

Need help choosing a layout? Browse our professional CV examples or build yours using our AI CV Builder. If you are new to the eye care industry, take time to boost your confidence, understand the 10 possible reasons why you’re not getting interviews, and learn strategies for bouncing back from job rejection to strengthen your chances. Before contacting recruiters, learn how to send your CV in 8 steps and track your job applications to stay organised.

FAQs

What is the difference between an optometrist and an optician?

An optometrist examines eyes, diagnoses vision problems, and can prescribe glasses or contact lenses. An optician, on the other hand, primarily dispenses and fits glasses or contact lenses based on prescriptions.

Do opticians earn a good income in the UK?

Pay depends on experience, location, and role. Entry-level assistants earn around £18k–£22k, while experienced dispensing opticians earn £25k–£35k, and managers can reach £45k or more. Learn more about average salary in the UK.

What qualifications do I need to be an optician in the UK?

You must complete a recognised optical dispensing qualification and register with the General Optical Council to practise legally.

Are opticians in demand in the UK?

Yes, opticians are one of the UK's in-demand jobs due to ongoing eye care needs and an aging population, particularly for qualified dispensing opticians and contact lens specialists. Industry leaders in the UK, such as Specsavers, Boots Opticians, and Vision Express, are actively recruiting.