Optics Technicians: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
Job Overview Microscopes, telescopes, eyeglasses and aerial cameras are used for magnification and are considered optical instruments. Optics technicians are specialist who assemble, design, install or fabricate optical instruments. They can be classified into four types: photo-optics technicians, precision-lens technicians, optomechanical technicians and precision-lens grinders. Optical instruments are considered to be important since they are now used in space exploration, communication systems, medical research and microcircuitry design.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
Technical skills are needed to be a successful optics technician. Their skills can be enhanced by studying Technical Reading and Writing, Mathematics, Shop and Science. Photography courses are also helpful. There are only a few universities and colleges that offer some training programs for optics technicians. Community college and technical institute provides advanced education where Science and Engineering programs are offered, which are also the courses best suited for this field. The programs can be completed in two or three years. Courses that are under this program includes Trigonometry, Optical Instruments, Specifications Writing, Geometrical Optics, Lens Polishing, Analytical Geometry, Optical Shop Practices, Mechanical Drawing, Physics, Report Preparation and Manual Preparation. Licensing and certification are not required although in some cases, certification will be required when inspecting and manufacturing instruments that will be used for clinical or medical purposes or for government application.
Skills and Abilities
Strong knowledge and interest in Physics and Mathematics are needed when pursuing a career as optics technician. They should be willing to learn. They should have the desire to know more about technical and scientific aspect of optics technology. Good manual skills are needed when grinding and polishing glass elements, designing precision telescopic lenses and assembling and aligning the instrument.
Duties
If optics technicians work in research and development department, it is their responsibility to study and develop new optical application and instruments. They are responsible in inventing new methods to conduct experiments, obtaining measurements and following fabrication procedures demanded by scientists and engineers.
For optics technicians in the product manufacturing field, they should assemble, align, calibrate and test optical instruments. Some optic technicians are employed to maintain and operate on-site optical instruments like large observatory telescopes and auxiliary instruments, spectrophotometers, technical and scientific cameras and lightmeasuring equipment. It is part of their responsibility to help engineers in expounding applications that utilize photonics which is a technical process that uses particles of light or photons to process information.
Earnings and Job Outlook
The income of optic technician depends on the type of work they are involved and the industry. For those who completed two-year training program, their starting salary ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 per year. Those who have advanced education earn around $21,000 to $31,000 a year. Job opportunities are available in optical grinding and polishing shop as well as manufacturer of optical instruments. They are also employed by the military for weapons-development program and space program.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
Latest Articles about: Careers
1: College Mathematics Professors: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook2: Mathematics Teacher: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook
3: Medical Assistant: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook
4: Mathematicians: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook
5: Medical Ethicist: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Word Count: 502 Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 Time: 8:06 PM
Previous - Optical Engineers: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook | Next - Oriental Medicine Practitioner: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook