NOC 32100: Opticians

Opticians assist clients in the selection of eyeglass frames, take the necessary measurements and arrange for the production of eyeglasses or contact lenses, mount lenses in eyeglass frames and fit clients with final prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They are employed in optical retail outlets or other establishments with optical dispensing departments, or they may be self-employed. Student opticians and opticians who are managers of optical retail outlets are included in this unit group.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 2.
• Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 2: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory duties. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 32100 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 32100

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription prepared by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or by analyzing the client's eyeglasses or contact lenses and take necessary measurements including the curvature of the eyes, the accurate position of the pupils and bridge width, using optical measuring devices
• Advice clients on eyeglasses selection by informing them of different products such as lens materials, frames, tints and anti-reflection coating
• Adjust contact lenses and inform client on use and care
• Grind, polish, cut and edge lenses or have them made by a laboratory before inserting them into the frame
• Adjust finished eyeglasses to fit client
• May supervise or manage the activities of other opticians or student opticians.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• contact lens fitter
• contact lens practitioner
• dispensing optician
• licensed optician
• optician

Employment requirements

• Completion of a two- or three-year college program in ophthalmic dispensing or optical sciences is required.
• Licensing by a regulatory body for opticians is required in all provinces.
• Licensing requirements for scope of practice and protected titles related to the sale or dispensing and fitting of contact lenses vary by province.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 60020Dispensing opticians office manager
• 32129Ocularist
• 31101Ophthalmologist
• 33109Optical laboratory technician
• 31111Optometrists