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Guidance on how members’ fees are set and how they are reviewed. It also provides guidance on who is entitled to additional fees and how fees and expenses are paid.

We publish the majority of our information on our website and our publication scheme follows the Information commissioners model publication scheme for public authorities.

This policy applies to the long-term investment of the Council reserves, and their investment by external advisors.

Sets out in detail our registration fees for 2025-26. 

The roles and duties of Hearings Committee members as well as Hearings protocols.

This policy describes our process for member review and provide members with a suitable structure for regular reviews, reflective learning and objective setting.

The Member Appointment Guide contains information on the processes of recruitment, appointment, and reappointment of all member roles.

This policy outlines how members’ fees are set and how they are reviewed.

The policy provides a framework for the management of our reserves. All reserves are unrestricted although we have designated some for specific purposes. Information is given on the target levels for some reserves and the conditions for their use.

The contracts and procurement policy provides a framework for the management and control of our contracts and other procurement.

This document provides the procedural framework for the General Optical Council’s financial affairs. Its purpose is to ensure that the Council’s members and staff comply with specific statutory provisions, best professional practice and that the integrity of the Council’s financial affairs is protected.

The purpose of the protocol is to provide guidance on when we will open an investigation into a report about alleged illegal practice and when we will consider bringing a private prosecution.

The policy provides details of responsibilities, the risk management process, risk identification, analysis, recording, monitoring, and review.

This policy covers gifts (which includes gifts, rewards and prizes, donations and sponsorship and speaking fees) and hospitality.

This document sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours a dispensing optician must demonstrate for specialist entry to the register as a contact lens optician. This document also sets out our standards which organisations providing GOC-approved qualifications leading to specialist entry on to the register must meet and how we collect evidence and engage with stakeholders to be assured our requirements are met.

This document sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours an optometrist must demonstrate for specialist entry to the register in the additional supply (AS), supplementary prescribing (SP) and/or independent prescribing (IP) categories. This document also sets out our standards which organisations providing GOC-approved qualifications leading to specialist entry into the register must meet and how we collect evidence and engage with stakeholders to be assured our requirements are met.

This document provides the procedural framework for the General Optical Council’s financial affairs.

This policy provides guidance on what interests must be declared; how and when to declare interests; how to identify and manage conflicts of interest; and how interests will be published.

This document sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours a student optometrist or a dispensing optician must demonstrate to join the register as a fully qualified optometrist or a dispensing optician. This document also sets out our standards which organisations providing GOC-approved qualifications must meet and how we collect evidence and engage with stakeholders to be assured our requirements are met.

This policy defines financial crime and provides examples which can be used to recognise such activity. It sets out our expectations in relation to the prevention, detection and reporting of financial crime and the consequences of non-compliance with the policy.