ABDO College

ABDO College
A Career as a Dispensing Optician by James Russell FBDO


ABDO College

The Association ofBritish Dispensing Opticians three-year distance learning course fortrainee dispensing opticians incorporates an annual four-week block ofcompulsory College attendance, giving students an opportunity toconsolidate their theoretical studies with practical laboratory sessionsand lectures.

This tuition takes placeat the ABDO College at Godmersham Park. The mansion, whichis the centrepiece of the Godmersham Park estate, lies within 1000 acresof beautiful Kent countryside and benefits from stunning views acrossthe North Downs. Situated between Ashford and Canterbury, it isaccessible by rail, bus and car.

The student accommodation,some is situated on the estate, offers single, twin and double rooms,all with en-suite facilities, desk and television in addition to acommunal lounge with satellite television, a large fitted kitchen withfull cooking facilities and a laundry room. Excellent hot and coldlunches are provided in the main college building, the cost beingincluded in the fees for the block. Other refreshments are availablefrom vending machines.

The College includes a sixty-seated lecture theatre with facilities for video and multimedia projection, a library for private study and a large common-room for social gathering. In addition to the general teaching areas, there are six specialist laboratories dedicated to the practical study of:
  • Ophthalmic lenses
  • Frames and dispensing
  • Anatomy
  • Optics and visual optics
  • Contact lens fitting and refraction
  • Contact lens instrumentation
Teaching is carried out by highly committed members of staff, all of whom are FBDO qualified and have experience of lecturing in this field, both nationally and internationally, as well as being ABDO examiners. Since they are currently, or have been previously, distance learning tutors, they have an understanding of the specific problems experienced by correspondence course students.

A dedicated technician, who is also a qualified dispensing optician, ensures the smooth running of all the laboratories and maintains the equipment to examination standard.

Feedback from students is monitored by way of satisfaction questionnaires issued to every student at the end of their block, and a board of trustees oversees the course in order to ensure that our very high standards are maintained.

Training

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