Apprentice Optical Assistant
Vision ExpressExpected closing date: Friday, 30 October 2026
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Key Takeaways
- Undertake a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Optical Assistance over 1 year 6 months.
- Earn £17,228 per year while gaining practical experience.
- Develop skills in customer care, administration, and optical practice.
- Applications close on 2026-10-30.
- Potential to progress to higher optical qualifications or management roles.
About the Role
This isn't your typical retail apprenticeship. As part of the Vision Express team, you'll have more responsibility and involvement, playing a vital role in ensuring our customers feel special. With guidance from your store manager and the apprenticeship team, you'll learn the ins and outs of bringing our brand to life, selecting the right products, and delivering personalized experiences.
What happens at the end
The successful candidate will work towards achieving a Level 3 qualification in optical and gain experience in a busy optical practice.
Upon completion of the Level 3 qualification, you will be an experienced and qualified optical assistant, and as such, you can continue building up skills that will always be in demand. Career breaks and part time working are often possible.
You could go on to acquire higher level optical qualifications such as:
- Ophthalmic Dispensing - Become a qualified Dispensing Optician
- Contact lens Optician - fit Contact lenses
- Low vision specialist - help people where traditional spectacles will not suffice. Supply low vision aids, magnifiers, advice on improving contrast and on other non-Optical aids such as bump-ons
- Optometry courses - carry out full eye examinations and issue prescriptions
- Clinical representative - visiting practices introducing new frame ranges and Ophthalmic lenses
- In-practice trainer - You could use your knowledge to train others
Other non-clinical roles:
- Practice Management - you could complete a management course
- Practice ownership - you could go into business yourself, partnership or franchise
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Qualifications
- GCSE English (grade Grade 4/C or above) - essential
- GCSE Maths (grade Grade 4/C or above) - essential
Key details
- Wage: £17,228 a year
- Working week: Learners will work 9:30am - 5pm, 5 out of 7 days. This will be discussed and agreed between candidate and store manager upon interview. They will be required to carry out a weekend shift.
- Hours: 38.75 hours per week
- Duration: 1 Year 6 Months
- Start date: 2026-11-09
- Closing date: 2026-10-30
- Apprenticeship standard: Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)
- Training provider: TRAINING 2000 LIMITED