Optical Technicians:
Optical Technicians
Level 4
Examination
To obtain the Level 4 Diploma for Optical Technicians, a candidate must successfully sit each of three interrelated examinations; written papers for both Parts I & II and a practical examination, which will include questions on a practical project that second-year candidates undertake as part of their studies.
Between them, the written papers comprise 11 units:
Unit 1: Mathematics for optical
manufacturing
Unit 2: The eye & the principles of
optics
Unit 3: The properties of ophthalmic lenses
Unit 4: The theory of lens surfacing
Unit
5: The properties of ophthalmic lenses
Unit 6:
Spectacle lens materials
Unit 7: The properties of
spectacle frames & glazing
Unit 8: Optical workshop
tasks & glazing spectacle frames
Unit 9: Optical
workshop tasks & surfacing spectacle lenses
Unit 10:
Spectacle lens treatments
Unit 11: The spectacle industry
& standards
The Part 1 Examination
- a three-hour paper on units 1 & 2.
- a two and a half hour paper on unit 3
The Part II Written Examination
- a three-hour paper on units 4,5 & 6
- a three-hour paper on units 7,10 & 11
The Part II Practical Examination.
The practical examination is based on Units 8 or 9 depending on the candidate's choice of pathway, and is made up of:
A Practical Project each candidate will be assigned tasks, in the form of a project, to be completed by arrangement with the examiners.
- Unit 8 - Glazing frame or
- Unit 9 - Lens surfacing
Each task will be timed and supervised. Records of timing, etc. and completed tasks are to be submitted to the examiners.
A Viva and Practical Examination to include
- A viva examination (2 x 20 minutes) on workshop practices and problem solving.
- A practical examination (60 minutes) on
(i) The measurement of frames
(ii) The description of frames
(iii) Repairs and setting up - A practical examination (90 minutes) on the verification of completed spectacles, the use of the focimeter, recording lens power and laying off lenses for glazing
Passing the examination
To obtain the qualification, a candidate must achieve a minimum of 50% in each unit of each paper.
The Practical Examination is one unit, comprising four sections, one of which has three subsections. To pass, a candidate must attain a minimum of 50% in each section or subsection. A candidate failing a subsection will be required to retake that whole section.
Candidates will only be able to retake a written unit or section of the Practical Examination three times, and only within three years of their first sitting the unit or section concerned. Those who have still not achieved a pass by that stage will be required to re-sit the whole examination.
Candidates will not be permitted to sit the Part II examination until they have passed Part I.
Grading
Results are not graded. A candidate either passes an examination, or fails it.
Prizes
Both the WCSM Education Trust and the Optical Industry award prizes to those obtaining the best marks in each part of the examinations held throughout the same calendar year.
Examinations: important note
With effect from June 2011 the format of all WCSM examinations will change to reflect the fact that qualifications accredited to the Qualifications and Credits Framework may be achieved through passing the qualifying examination unit by unit, as opposed to trying to pass the whole examination at one sitting, provided all units are achieved within five years of the candidate's achieving the first one. However, this would clearly be a longer and, because of the increased administrative overheads, a more expensive way of obtaining a qualification.
All WCSM Application Forms will allow candidates to specify how many units they wish to attempt at that particular time.
The time allowed in the examination room to complete each unit will be determined by the time allocated to the whole paper, the total number of units into which that paper is divided, and their respective credit value.
Take advantage of the distance learning packages offered by the
WCSM Education Trust to prepare youself for a WCSM qualification that will
make you a more skilled employee.
