Working in practice part-time whilst studying optometry is a fantastic opportunity, and one I’d wholly encourage fellow students to pursue if possible.

The advantages go beyond just earning extra money as a student (though that always helps). You’ll gain hands-on experience with essential skills like dispensing spectacles, repairs, spectacle fittings and adjustments, pre-testing, and focimetry - all whilst actively studying them at university. This provides you with a massive advantage, as you will have extra opportunities to practise your skills as well as actively apply your newly learnt knowledge, which is key to retention. Most practices utilise a digital patient management system - working part-time allows you to familiarise yourself with them, which will save you time in the future when you begin your CLiP placement.

I was fortunate enough to be taught manual focimetry at work before we’d even covered it in labs at university. This was so helpful, and made me much more confident going into my focimetry exams as I’d had that extra time to practise.

Additionally, working in practice allows you to start building a professional network early, which can open doors for future CLiP placements and jobs down the line. It’s worth noting that practice experience makes you a more competitive candidate for CLiP applications.

You will find that your practice colleagues will become invaluable sources of guidance, mentorship, and knowledge - ask questions and learn as much as you can from them.

Be prepared to be challenged. There is a lot to learn, and you will make mistakes - that’s part of the process. As an optical assistant, you’re often the first face a patient sees, which means you may encounter difficult interactions sooner than you might expect. Lean into it. These situations will occur from time to time in your future career. See difficult conversations as an opportunity to gain a richer understanding of a patient’s needs and the solutions available to them, which will make you a better optometrist in the long term.