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

Prospective providers of unapproved qualifications in Optometry or Dispensing Optics should use the below form (1A) and guidance notes to apply for qualification approval in accordance with the Requirements (March 2021):

• Form 1A (for optometry and dispensing optics)

Existing providers of currently approved qualifications in Optometry or Dispensing Optics should use the below form (2A) to notify the GOC of proposed adaptations to, or teach out of, existing GOC-approved qualifications to meet the Requirements (March 2021):

• Form 2A (for optometry and dispensing optics)

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