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Certifications and skills that raise your pay

• Contact lens certification

  A separate national exam from the eyeglasses one. Fitting contacts is a distinct skill and is paid like it.

• Advanced certification

  The exam board offers a higher level of certification for experienced opticians, and licensed states often want it for supervisors.

• Lab and edging skill

  Being able to surface and edge a lens yourself, rather than sending everything out, makes you far harder to replace in an independent shop.

• Low vision aids

  Fitting magnifiers and specialist devices for people with serious sight loss. Specialized, satisfying and short of people.

• Management

  Running the optical department of a clinic or a chain store is the usual step into the top pay band.