Registration

Optometrists and dispensing opticians must be registered with us to practise in the UK.

We publish registers of all optometrists, dispensing opticians, student optometrists and dispensing opticians, optical businesses (bodies corporate) and practitioners with specialist qualifications who are qualified and fit to practise, train or carry on business. All individuals and businesses registered with us are known as our registrants.

The registers are publicly available to search online

Join the register

Information on how to join the General Optical Council registers

Restore your registration

Information on how to get restored to the General Optical Council register

Renew your registration

Guidance on how to renew your registration.

Register from overseas

Information for overseas optical professionals on how to join the GOC register.

Register outside the UK

Guidance on how to apply for a CCPS to practise in another country.

Verification of Ophthalmic Performers List declarations

Guidance for NHS bodies about carrying out verification checks of ophthalmic performers list declarations.