May 14, 2019
Seneca has the largest postsecondary opticianry program in Canada, with 120 students registered annually, ranging from high school and university graduates to mid-career professionals and newcomers to Canada. The program is highly regarded by industry. As the need for skilled opticians continues to grow in our community and across the country, Seneca is committed to providing the highest quality education, emphasizing experiential learning and strong industry partnerships.
The industry is expanding and according to recent federal government labour market data, over the next decade, new job opportunities for opticians, stemming from expanding demand as well as retirements within the profession, are expected to grow by the thousands with an insufficient number of new graduates to fill those positions.
A rapidly aging population will significantly increase the demand for a range of health-care professionals, including opticians. Vision difficulties tend to become more prevalent with age, which, understandably, correlates to an increase in the demand for these vision-care technicians. Retirements of existing professionals are anticipated to account for almost 55 per cent of future job openings for opticians. Seneca’s Opticianry graduates will be well-positioned to fill these labour market gaps and deliver the eye-care solutions of the future.
As industry demand increases and technology rapidly changes, Seneca will continue to be the leader in opticianry education across Canada. In order to produce graduates ready to meet the growing demands and serve the vision-care needs of Canadians, now and in the future, Seneca has collaborated with industry to remain at the forefront of delivering innovative programming, practical research and expanding opportunities for our Opticianry students.