Navy NEC · Medical
L19A Optician
A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.
Overview
An Optician fabricates single vision and multifocal spectacles by marking, cutting, edging, and inserting lenses into frames. They measure, order, verify, dispense, repair, and replace spectacles, maintain optical laboratory equipment, and assist with diagnostic screening and the treatment of ocular disorders.
Minimum clearance: Secret
Core Skills
- prescription lens interpretation
- lens marking and cutting
- lens edging
- frame measurement
- spectacle fabrication
- lens resurfacing
- spectacle dispensing
- optical equipment maintenance
- spectacle repair
- ocular screening support
Civilian Software & Tools
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
Civilian Career Paths
- Optometry
- Clinical Technician
Training & Development
Getting Started
- American Board of Opticianry Certification (ABO)
- Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
Career Growth
- National Contact Lens Examiners Certification (NCLE)
- Certified Paraoptometric Technician (CPOT)
- Certified Paraoptometric (CPO)
- American Board of Opticianry Advanced Certification (ABOC-AC)
What the Work Involves
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Related Occupations
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: a high school diploma and some on-the-job training.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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