Register as a business

• Relevant information about the business including:
  
  • registered address
  • any practice addresses
• If you are applying under:
  • Category A - details of all company directors
  • Category C - a completed Qualification under Section 9(2)(c) of the Opticians Act 1989 form - this will need to be uploaded as part of the application (see registration requirements for more information)
• Details of any declarations you may need to make relating to the applicant and any director (including non-GOC registered directors). Find out more about when and how to make a declaration.

Please do not begin this application without having the information listed above available as you will not be able to complete it. You are not able to save progress on this form.

In order to be eligible to enter the register, your body corporate needs to meet one of the following requirements:

A

The majority of the directors are registered optometrists, registered dispensing opticians or registered body corporates. Complete this category if the majority of directors (over 50%) are GOC registered optometrists, dispensing opticians and/or body corporates or, if there is only one director, they are a registered optometrist or dispensing optician or body corporate.

Note: We treat a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) 'designated member' as being equivalent to a company director.

B

The applicant was included in a health service ophthalmic list on 20.11.1957. If you consider that you meet these requirements please contact the Registration team at registration@optical.org for more information.

C

(i) The greater part of the applicant’s business consists of activities other than the testing of sight and fitting and supply of optical appliances; and(ii) that so much of its business as consists of the testing of sight is carried on under the management of a registered optometrist; and(iii) that so much of its business as consists of the fitting and supply of optical appliances is carried on under the management of a registered optometrist or registered dispensing optician.

Complete this category if fees for work as optometrist or dispensing opticians, and receipts for optical appliances designed to correct, relieve or remedy a defect of sight, do not exceed 49% of the total receipts of the body corporate for sales and services in the year.

The testing of sight must be under the management of a registered optometrist and the fitting and supply of optical appliances must be under the management of a registered optometrist or dispensing optician.

The person(s) named, or their successors must have full powers of management and discretion on professional issues. You must notify us if this situation changes.

If you are applying under this category you will need to complete and attach the Qualification under Section 9(2)(c) of the Opticians Act 1989 form with your application.

We will not be able to process your application under this category without it.

D

The applicant is an Industrial & Provident Society and the testing of sight is carried on under the management of a registered optometrist and the fitting and supply of optical appliances is carried on under the management of a registered optometrist or dispensing optician. If you consider that you meet these requirements please contact the Registration team at registration@optical.org for further information.

If you are intending to use a protected title, you will need a title of permission letter from our Registration team in order to incorporate your business with Companies House.

To request one please fill out this application form.

If you use a protected title and do not register you shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine. If you are unsure if your body corporate falls into this category you should seek your own independent legal advice.

You may register with us if you are not using a protected title so long as you satisfy the registration requirements, specifically those set out in 'Registration requirements' above.