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Are you currently working as an optician but in need of a major change?
Maybe you are on the verge of experiencing burnout, or perhaps you are just simply looking for a chance to expand your skills.
Regardless of your reason, there are various alternative career options that you can choose from, such as an optometric technician, ophthalmic technician, optometry office manager, product development specialist, and many others.
Choosing the right fit for you may mean furthering your education to receive the necessary education and certificates.
This guide was put together to help you decide the best alternative for you if you are ready to leap.
List of Alternative Careers
1. Optometrist
Description
An optometrist is similar to an optician.
However, an optometrist is responsible for examining, diagnosing, and treating various eye conditions in patients.
They are also responsible for prescribing glasses and contact lenses.
However, an optometrist is just one step on the ladder.
If they are unable to diagnose and treat certain diseases, they will then be referred to an ophthalmologist.
However, it’s a great alternative for those looking to venture off from being an optician.
Transferable Skills
There are many transferable skills that an optician can take with them on their journey to becoming an optometrist.
Some of these skills are patient interaction skills, communication skills, the ability to perform basic eye exams, understanding eye anatomy, and customer service skills.
Opticians and optometrists should have the ability to interact with patients effectively, all while understanding their vision needs.
Potential Requirements
An optometrist should have a bachelor’s degree in biology or pre-med.
Optometrists should also pass the OAT exam and complete an OD degree from an optometry school.
Finally, an optometrist should receive their license, which can be done by passing a state license exam.
This means that you should take certain science courses and gain the necessary clinical experience.
Benefits
There are several benefits of switching from an optician to an optometrist.
If you want to make more, learn more, and assist more in your field, you should consider becoming an optometrist.
A career as an optometrist is entirely rewarding because you can continuously learn, in addition to helping patients.
You will also enjoy a positive work/life balance where you have the freedom to choose between various practice settings to work in.
2. Ophthalmologist
Description
Another career that is worth considering as an alternative to being an optician is an ophthalmologist.
These are doctors who specialize in conditions such as neurology, pediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma, and more.
They also research to find out more about various eye diseases and their treatments.
Transferable Skills
There are many transferable skills that an optician can transfer to a career as an ophthalmologist, such as strong communication skills, detailed knowledge of eye anatomy, customer service skills, technical skills, problem-solving skills, and more.
It’s also important to mention that working as an ophthalmologist requires you to have additional education and training that goes beyond what the average optician has.
Potential Requirements
Unlike an optician, an ophthalmologist needs to receive a bachelor’s degree in a science field such as pre-med.
Additionally, they will need to earn an MD and undergo one year of internship and three years of residency.
These programs include additional training in surgery and eye care.
You will also need to pass various medical licensing exams throughout the entire process.
Benefits
A career as an ophthalmologist can be a great fit for you if you already have experience working as an optician for various reasons.
Being an ophthalmologist provides you with more interaction with patients and more ability to improve their quality of life.
There is also a high earning potential associated with being an ophthalmologist.
You will have access to advanced technology and much more, allowing you to make a positive impact on patients’ lives.
3. Glaucoma Specialist
Description
A glaucoma specialist is another great alternative career to being an optician.
The main responsibility of a glaucoma specialist is to diagnose and treat glaucoma, which is a disease of the eye that can result in vision loss and even blindness.
Transferable Skills
Many skills are transferable coming from an optician to a glaucoma specialist.
These skills are the ability to collect detailed medical history, communication skills, knowledge of visual acuity testing, being able to handle fragile equipment, and having a good sense of detail.
Other skills, such as clinical skills, are great for having as they allow you to perform basic eye examinations and take accurate measurements.
Potential Requirements
There are various requirements needed to become a glaucoma specialist, such as earning a bachelor’s degree, enrolling in medical school, and obtaining an ophthalmology residency.
You will also need to complete a glaucoma fellowship that can take anywhere from one to two years.
This will help you gain more training in helping you diagnose and treat glaucoma.
Benefits
Compared to being an optician, many aspects of this career can make your work more beneficial.
For instance, you can enjoy a much higher level of medical expertise when working as a glaucoma specialist.
You will learn how to accurately diagnose and treat complicated eye conditions, including glaucoma.
You will have the ability to perform surgery, which can have a positive impact on patients’ lives.
4. Pharma Consultant
Description
Depending on the level of experience you gained as an optician, you may find yourself making the switch to working as a pharma consultant.
The duties of a pharma consultant include developing new business strategies, staying up-to-date on industry trends, communicating with pharmaceutical companies regarding business operations, and much more.
Transferable Skills
There are many skills that you can transfer from your career as an optician to a pharma consultant, such as problem-solving skills, adaptability, business knowledge, critical thinking, project management, and much more.
You should be able to adapt to any environment, as they are both quick-moving and require you to be able to think on your feet.
Potential Requirements
To become a pharma consultant, additional education is required.
You will need to have a degree in life sciences, business, pharmacy, or another related field.
Many times you will even need to have an MBA degree with a focus on healthcare, as this can be highly beneficial in understanding the field of work.
Benefits
Working as a pharma consultant means you’ll have more exposure to diverse projects and a higher earning potential compared to an optician.
There are other benefits to working as a pharma consultant, such as continuous learning and skill development and the ability to influence critical decisions within companies.
5. Medical Freelance Writer
Description
Freelance medical writers have an interesting job, and it may be a big change coming from a career as an optician.
The main duties of a freelance medical writer are to communicate new research to others, put together training documents for healthcare professionals, and make edits to medical documents.
They work for healthcare companies, media companies, and more.
Transferable Skills
Transferable skills that you can take with you from an optician to a freelance medical writer are communication skills, research skills, attention to detail, adaptability, time management skills, and much more.
Potential Requirements
Further education is needed to work as a freelance medical writer.
You will need a medical degree.
And, depending on the role, you may even need to have a degree in physical therapy, nursing, or another related field.
Benefits
Working as a freelance medical writer comes with a multitude of benefits.
If you are looking for careers that allow you to continuously advance up the ladder, a career as a medical writer is ideal.
You will also benefit from financial security and the ability to make a big impact on the health of others.
Tips for Transitioning Careers
Here are a few tips to keep in mind for those looking to transition to a new career:
1. Do Your Research
Different careers will emerge, which will encourage you to start the exploration phase.
One of the first things you can do is become an expert in the field of your choice so you can find out as much information as you can.
You can do this by networking and speaking to people you are currently working with.
You can also do some research online and research various careers.
Attending seminars and conferences is another good way to obtain the research you need.
2. Update Your Resume
On your journey to transitioning careers, don’t forget to update your resume.
Be sure to add any skills you currently have and be sure to mention these when you land interviews.
Updating your resume is a big step, as this will help you land your next career.
3. Apply for Entry-Level Positions
When transitioning to a new career, you may need to start at the bottom and work your way up.
This means that you may need to take a temporary pay cut even if you have experience through an internship.
However, you should be realistic about the positions you qualify for so you can move up the ladder swiftly.
Conclusion
Transitioning to an alternative career is not impossible.
It just means that you have to do your research, network, gain additional education, and update your resume.
If you are dedicated to transitioning to the career of your dreams, you can feel confident, knowing that your skills can be valuable on your next journey.
So what do you do next, you ask?
You should take the leap and explore the career that you have an interest in.
Start by figuring out what additional certification and education you need.
Talk to people in the field so you can make this transition a successful one.
