Student Dispensing Optician Review
at ASDA
Degree Apprenticeship
Healthcare
Langley Mill
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I am currently a student/apprentice Dispensing Optician while working as an Optical Advisor. My job role is varied throughout the day but mainly focuses on giving patients the best experience at our practice and providing them with the spectacles they need to be able to see clearly. I can be pre-screening a patient one minute, quality checking specs or handling an emergency referral to the hospital the next. We run a busy clinic and pride ourselves on our patient experience, so we put them at the heart of everything we do.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I felt like an imposter at first as it had been a long time since I was last in education! Over the last 6 months, I've settled in and become more confident. It has become a lot more enjoyable now I can put my learning into practice.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt so much in a short space of time! The amount of care and thought processes that I can now give to a patient when dispensing their spectacles to give them the best possible vision has increased tenfold in just six months.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
As it is blending learning (distance learning and block release) the structure to the course is very well set out. We know what we should be learning and what should be submitted when.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The support we receive from Asda is second to none! We get study hours to complete our assignments, we are completely financially assisted when going on block release. We have regular catch ups with professional development where we are able to raise concerns or request more support
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Abdo college block release gives us most of the skills we need for our course and the virtual learning environment provides everything else we need. We all have an ABDO appointed coach, who we can ask anything without feeling stupid and gives feedback on our assignments
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Having a greater understanding of a spectacle lens, frame fitting, lens choices and clinical skills allows me to assist our patients in selecting the best vision correction for their needs
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend ASDA to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I have worked with Asda for the last 14 years, it is flexible and fits around my family. There are career progression opportunities on all departments
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to ASDA?
Be ready to be flexible with the needs of the business, its very fast paced but also very rewarding
