Renew your registration

Optical professionals, businesses and students have to renew their registration with us every year. You can renew your registration and update your details through your MyGOC account where there is also guidance on the process.

If you wish to retire or withdraw from the register, you can also do this through your MyGOC account.

Optometrists, dispensing opticians and businesses

You will be notified in January each year and applications must be completed and the fee paid by the annual deadline of 15 March through your MyGOC account. If you do not submit your application and pay the retention fee by the deadline you will be removed from the register.

If you are removed from the register but wish to continue practising, you must apply to be restored to the fully qualified register.

Students

Your applications must be completed and the £30 retention fee paid by 15 July.

If you do not submit your application and pay the retention fee by the deadline you will be removed from the register.

If you are removed from the register, but want to continue practising, you must apply to be restored to the student register.

If you are not registered, you may be excluded from clinical training and examinations. We may not recognise qualifications of applicants for full registration who were not registered for all or part of their training.

If you are not going to be in study during the next academic year (for example if you are taking a gap year), then you will not be able to remain registered. You must inform us as soon as you leave optical training or study. You will then need to apply to be restored to the student register when you recommence your studies.