Qualifications in Optometry or Dispensing Optics

In February 2021, our Council approved new education and training requirements for GOC-approved qualifications in Optometry and Dispensing Optics.

The new Requirements, effective from 1 March 2021, can be seen below:

• Requirements for Approved Qualifications in Optometry or Dispensing Optics

Applying for, or adapting, to the new requirements

If you are seeking to gain approval or to adapt an existing qualification in Optometry or Dispensing Optics, please first contact the Education Team via education@optical.org to discuss the process and for further information.

All the documents and associated forms and templates that you will need for this process are available below.

Forms

Seeking GOC approval for a qualification

The merged application form can be used by all prospective providers seeking GOC approval for a qualification, regardless of speciality:

• Merged application form
• Merged application form guidance

Whilst we encourage providers to use the new merged application form, we will still accept submissions using the previous Form 1A, 1B, or 1C versions.   

The previous Form 1A can be found below should prospective providers in Optometry and Dispensing Optics prefer to complete this version:

• Form 1A (for optometry and dispensing optics)

Adapting an existing GOC approved qualification

The merged adaptation form can be used by all providers looking to submit their qualification adaptation, regardless of profession or speciality:

• Merged adaptation form 
• Merged adaptation form guidance

Whilst we encourage providers to use the new merged adaptation form, we will still accept submissions using the previous Form 2A, 2B, or 2C versions.  

The previous Form 2A can be found below should existing providers of currently approved qualifications in Optometry or Dispensing Optics prefer to complete this version:

• Form 2A (for optometry and dispensing optics)

Declaration of Closure Form 

To ensure the Education department have a clear understanding and oversight of provider plans for all existing handbook qualifications, we will now be asking you to complete a Declaration of Closure form. This has been developed with the expectation that providers will complete the form to evidence their plans for teaching out any iterations of a qualification(s) that will not be adapted to the ETRs. This form will also be available for you to complete for the closure, suspension or teaching out of any qualifications and not just for those adapting. 

• Declaration of Closure form
• Declaration of Closure form guidance

Evidence Framework

The Evidence Framework provides guidance for providers of approved qualifications, Education Visitors, the GOC Education Team and decision-makers:

• Evidence Framework (for optometry and dispensing optics)

Templates

The following are a series of submission templates, designed to support current or prospective providers of GOC-approved qualifications to record and submit evidence to demonstrate how they meet, or intend to meet, the Standards for Approved Qualifications and Outcomes for Approved Qualifications outlined in the Requirements (March 2021):

• Templates Library & Guidance
• Template 1 – Introduction to Qualification
• Template 2 – Criteria Narrative
• Template 3 – Qualification Diagram
• Template 4 – Assessment strategy
• Template 5 – Module Outcome Map
• Template 6 – Outcomes Narrative
• Template 7 – List of supplementary documentation
• Template 8 – Mapping to Indicative Guidance
• Template 9 – Programme History

Decision form

This form will be used internally by the GOC to track decisions for qualifications seeking to gain GOC approval. This applies to new qualifications and existing qualifications being adapted to the new requirements:

• Decision form