Apprentice Optician PT Yakima, WA #171

Eyemart Express; Yakima (WA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Eyemart Express is seeking an Apprentice Optician to guide patients in choosing frames, lenses and coatings while pursuing licensure. You will verify prescription data for lab technicians and dispense finished glasses with accuracy and care.

This role requires strong retail experience and exceptional customer service. The position involves fast-paced store work, HIPAA compliance, and collaboration with in-store teams, with opportunities to progress toward licensure as a certified optician.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Retail/customer service or sales experience preferred.
• Experience in the optical industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients in selecting eyeglass frames, lenses and coatings.
• Ensure accurate measurements and prescription details for lab work.
• Dispense glasses to patients and educate on care.
• Process payments and maintain patient files.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Time management

Problem solving

Manual dexterity

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Your path to become a Licensed Optician starts here!

30 years ago, Dr. Barnes founded Eyemart Express to deliver everything a patient needs. It started with one friendly shop in Appleton, WI, and has since expanded to over 245 in 42 states. Today, Eyemart Express is celebrated for promptly delivering quality eyewear at great prices while maintaining great relationships with optometrists and local communities. We're not like everyone else, with local labs in stores, eye exams, and same-day delivery on glasses — our customers never miss a moment. Now, you can join one of the nation's top optical retailers and improve lives by helping people see better.

Job Description:

The Apprentice Optician will primarily assist patients in selecting the eyeglass frames, lenses and lens coatings that best suit their needs. The Apprentice Optician will also be responsible for ensuring the lab technicians have accurate measurements and prescription information for grinding, coating and fitting lenses to the frames. Once the glasses are complete, the Apprentice Optician is responsible for dispensing the glasses to the patient.

In this specialized role, we are looking for candidates who are either already working on, or would be interested in starting, their licensure to be a certified optician.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service
• Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions as well as policies regarding payment, returns, exchanges
• Compute and process payment transactions/refunds using in-house Point of Sale system
• Perform other administrative tasks as assigned
• Process insurance claims
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of products
• Create and maintain patient files, following company and HIPAA policies regarding confidentiality.
• Input customer information into computer system
• Assess and interpret patient's needs/wants based upon prescription requirements, facial features, lifestyle, and occupation, and suggest most appropriate products (i.e. frames, lens type, coatings)
• Take necessary measurements (i.e. measuring the patient's pupillary distance)
• Prepare work order for lab ensuring all pertinent information is listed (i.e. patient information, prescription, lens size/type, measurements, special tinting or coating, etc.)
• Pull correct lenses according to work order specifications
• Inspect final product for accuracy; adjust completed glasses to fit patient using pliers, hands and heat if necessary to bend frames accordingly
• Educate patient on how best to care for their glasses
• Adjust/repair damaged frames, replace nose pads and missing screws
• Price, stock and straighten merchandise

Education and Experience Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Experience working in retail, customer service, or sales
• Experience working in the optical industry is preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time (up to 8 hours per day per scheduled shift)
• Ability to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to approximately 25 lbs
• Must possess excellent hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
• Ability to operate basic office equipment
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Ability to correctly read and interpret prescription specifications and input into computer properly to ensure lenses are cut properly
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to identify and solve problems, and facilitate problem solving
• Time management skills - ability to prioritize and work quickly and efficiently when there are multiple customers to assist
• Ability to deal with stressful situations such as dissatisfied customers
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees
• Work is performed primarily in an indoor retail store setting
• High level of interaction with general public
• Work is independent and with patients
• Environment is often fast-paced and deadline oriented
• Work with small manual tools (screwdriver, pliers, etc.) on a regular basis
• Some exposure to dusts, fumes, glass and/or plastic lens particulates, standard chemicals found in optical lab (some of which may be allergenic), metal alloy (solid and melted), moderately high levels of noise, fluorescent lighting, cleaning agents and electrical energy in the lab

For roles that are remote (i.e., Work From Home (WFH)) or hybrid (i.e., partial onsite at a VSP location and WFH), must demonstrate a high level of engagement in virtual environments, including maintaining camera presence during meetings to support effective communication and team alignment.

VSP Vision is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to age, gender, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or protected veteran status. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.