Standards for optical students (effective from 1 January 2025)

Standards for optical students

Our standards define the standards of behaviour and performance we expect of all registered student optometrists and student dispensing opticians.

The General Optical Council

The General Optical Council is the regulator for the optical professions with statutory responsibility for setting standards for optical students.

This document sets out the eighteen standards that you must meet whilst training as an optical professional. These standards are not listed in order of priority and include standards relating to your behaviour and your supervised practice.

You are professionally responsible for what you do or do not do. You must use your own professional judgement, with the support of your training provider or supervisor, to determine how to achieve these standards.

To help you in doing so, we have provided additional information about what we expect of you under each standard. In relation to a small number of standards we may produce supplementary material where we feel that registrants need additional support.

Your role as a professional

As a student training to become a registered healthcare professional, you have a responsibility to ensure the care and safety of your patients and the public and to uphold professional standards.

Throughout the course of your training you will develop the knowledge and skills needed to be able to exercise professional judgement and make decisions about the care of your patient.

In the early stages of your training you will receive a greater level of support from your tutors and supervisors to assist your decision making. As you become more competent and experienced you will be required to take on increased responsibility for your decisions and professional judgements.

You must comply with all legal requirements that apply to you, including but not limited to, legislation relating to equalities, health and safety, data protection, medicines, and consumer protection. If you provide national health services, you should adhere to any additional requirements.

All registrants are expected to demonstrate leadership skills, attributes and behaviours, relevant to their scope of practice. Examples of when registrants could demonstrate leadership include adopting a collaborative approach to practice, role modelling professional behaviours, suggesting innovative solutions to problems and supporting the education and training of others. Leadership skills, attributes and behaviours are embedded throughout the standards and relate to all aspects of your work.

Requirement to be registered throughout your period of study

It is a requirement for all students enrolled on a General Optical Council-accredited course in optometry or dispensing optics to be registered throughout their period of training and to follow the standards outlined in this document.

Consequences of not registering or not following the standards

If someone raises concerns about your fitness to train, we will refer to these standards when deciding if we need to take any action.

You will need to demonstrate that your behaviour was in line with these standards and that you have acted professionally and in the best interests of your patients.

We will apply these standards in the context of the stage of training you have reached, taking into account the level of support and guidance you have received from those supervising your training.

Failure to register or follow these standards as a student, may affect your ability to register and practise as an optical professional when you qualify. In serious cases you may also be removed from your training course.

Making the care of your patients your first and overriding concern

The care, well-being and safety of patients are at the heart of being a professional. Patients will often have the same expectations of students as they would of qualified healthcare professionals and they must always be your first concern from the beginning of your study, through to your pre-registration training and beyond.

Consider and respond to the needs of patients who, due to their personal circumstances, are in need of particular care, support or protection or at risk of abuse and neglect. Patients may be vulnerable for a range of reasons, including physical or mental health conditions, capability in managing their health, or handling a difficult set of life events. Levels of vulnerability may vary between contexts, and change over time, so consider a patient's vulnerabilities as part of each consultation.

We have produced these specific standards for optical students which can be applied in the context of your study, taking account of the fact that you will develop your knowledge, skills and judgement over the period of your training.

Once your training is complete and you register as a practising optical professional you will then be expected to meet the separate Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians.

The standards

As a student optometrist or student dispensing optician you must:

1. Listen to patients and ensure that they are at the heart of the decisions made about their care

2. Communicate effectively with your patients

3. Obtain valid consent

4. Show care and compassion for your patients

5. Recognise, and work within, your limits of competence

6. Conduct appropriate assessments, examinations, treatments and referrals under supervision

7. Maintain adequate patient records

8. Ensure that supervision is undertaken appropriately and complies with the law

9. Work collaboratively with your peers, tutors, supervisors or other colleagues in the interests of patients

10. Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm

11. Ensure a safe environment for your patients

12. Show respect and fairness to others and do not discriminate

13. Maintain confidentiality and respect your patients’ privacy

14. Maintain appropriate boundaries with others

15. Be honest and trustworthy

16. Do not damage the reputation of your profession through your conduct

17. Respond to complaints effectively

18. Be candid when things have gone wrong

You will need to use your professional judgement in deciding how to meet the standards. To help you in doing so, the next section provides more detail about what we expect of you in relation to each standard.