|
Educating
and Training of the
AMERICAN OPTICIAN:
Where Do We Go From Here? |
For the last many months, this author has written about the need for changes in the way Opticians are educated and trained. At this juncture, it is time to offer suggestions on ways to improve the profession from that standpoint. All of these articles have been directed towards Opticians, but I have been simply amazed at the number of ODs, and even an Ophthalmologist who emailed or wrote in support of my concept from an earlier series on the American Optician. In summary, the hypothesis of the articles, and the study upon which they were based, states that we need to improve Opticians from the foundational level. Some feel Opticians need to be licensed and certified and pedigreed at any number of levels. I often see optical speakers with an alphabet soup of letters behind their names, and if you really look, there is not a single college degree among them! |
|
These inter-professional certifications may mean something to other Opticians, but will never substitute for a formal education. I will state for the record……we will NEVER go beyond where we currently reside professionally until we wake up and start improving ourselves educationally. It is imperative that we seek to standardize education and training across this country, and then, once we are all on a level playing field, we will begin to take the shape of a true profession, with common bonds across state lines. Here are my suggestions:
Recommendations for Improvement
It is clear from the research conducted earlier that Opticians need to change the way they are educated and trained to be able to utilize new technology and expand into new areas of practice. If not, they will soon cease to exist as a viable profession. Technicians in doctor’s office now do a great deal of what Opticians do and the data here strongly suggests that licensure, certification, technology or any of the variables described in the earlier study data can be utilized with little or no training. In many jurisdictions, Opticians have no requirements for education and training, or licensure, and that must change for the profession to meet the demands of practice in the future, particularly if they want to increase scope of practice. Based on technological developments, Opticians can assume more professional responsibility, but cannot do it maintaining current levels of education and training. The Optician of today is different from state to state and similarity of training should be a goal for the profession and its leaders.
Opticians need to begin planning now for more advanced levels of service to the public, including refraction, more advanced contact lens practice and low vision management. These can be roles for the future if Opticians are prepared adequately, and courses in business and management should be a part of the Opticians education as well.
Interestingly, the Opticians Association of America, over a decade ago, decided in a resolution that the Associate Degree was to be the entry-level requirement. Nothing was done to carry that resolution to fruition. The final question on the questionnaire indicates that a strong political voice is necessary for Opticianry to move forward. Unfortunately in the past, this has not been the case. Political infighting and lack of leaders with a vision have kept Opticians from advancement. As a recommendation, the members of the profession must elect leaders who can help the profession make the transition from the current level to the future; leaders who place the profession above self and individuals who value the issues made clear in this research. It is the feeling of this researcher that Opticians, due to a lack of education, typically do not understand the issues. They must be made to understand what an Optician can be in the future and someone of strong leadership ability will be required to undertake that task.
Someone who can work with the other two ‘Os’ to garner their support for the profession’s advancement is also a consideration. Opticians depend on eye doctors to write prescriptions for them. If they do not support this transition it will not happen. This is a two-fold issue: financial and educational. Eye doctors glean a large portion of their income from the sale of optical appliances. Opticians are competition. In the past, Ophthalmologists did not dispense, and were the Optician’s biggest ally. This is not true today and must be considered in asking them to support this change. Leadership and a strong national voice is needed to move Opticians to the next level, and modeling some of the other professions mentioned in the research will provide a framework for their efforts; particularly Optometry.
Where to go from here? Opticians can choose their own path. But it is clear that change must occur if they are to continue to exist as a viable profession. Only 22 states license Opticians, and in the jurisdictions where certification or licensure is not required, there is little to no benefit to seeking higher levels of education or achieving certification. Anyone can work high levels of technology in doctor’s offices and seemingly be successful as a well-trained and educated Optician if income is considered a viable measure of success. This must change for Opticians to become recognized as professionals and it is entirely in their hands.
Summary of Recommendations Based on Study Data
Planning at the national and state levels needs to begin immediately to develop/implement programs for the education and training of future Opticians. Based on this research those plans should include the following:
-
Increase the levels of education and training required for Opticians in the United States beyond current limitations.
-
Maintain apprenticeship in the early phase of these changes, but require a formal education component as a part of this method of training. Once those are firmly situated, requiring a degree will be the next step.
-
Develop programs that provide education and training related to the advanced areas of practice; refraction, advanced contact lenses, and low vision.
-
Develop programs that provide training in management.
-
Continue to educate and train Opticians in the traditional areas of service and responsibility, but also provide them with the tools to move into new areas of practice, particularly those made possible through new technology.
-
Develop a stronger national voice to represent Opticianry to outside interests, particularly other eye care providers whose support will be required for Opticians to advance.
Next month we will be moving to a new and different topic. I am always enthralled with issues of organizational change, and clearly Opticians are in need of help, but we can’t beat this horse too much longer for fear it may become ineffective. As I move about the country, I often see you. I am always open to discussing my ideas and concepts for this profession. Someone asked me recently why I was concerned. I have now moved into teaching as my full-time professional activity, but I remain an Optician. My goal is to make the profession better before I retire, and I truly feel education is the path to that goal. I hope, whether you agree with me or not, that I have at least stimulated you to think about where we can go as a profession……….if we just try!
References on request
|
|
|
