Watch our explainer video on new education and training requirements
We have produced a short animation which outlines our new education and training requirements and why we introduced them.
Following our review of optical education, we have produced a short animation which outlines our new education and training requirements and why we introduced them.
The new set of requirements ensure optical professionals can meet the future needs of patients and respond to a rapidly changing landscape, and include:
Optometry and dispensing optics (came into effect 1 March 2021)
Additional supply, supplementary prescribing and independent prescribing (came into effect 1 January 2022)
Contact lens opticians (came into effect 1 March 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions
We have also produced FAQs to answer any further questions you may have about the requirements and how they may affect you. This page will be updated on a regular basis, so please submit any questions not currently included to our Education Team on [email protected].
The GOC has published an evaluation of non-UK optometry qualifications against its new education and training requirements (ETR) as part of a revised process for managing applications from overseas professionals to join its register.
The GOC has published an evaluation of non-UK optometry qualifications against its new education and training requirements (ETR) as part of a revised process for managing applications from overseas professionals to join its register.
We have published our UK Optical Education 2025 Report for GOC approved qualifications, which provides an analysis of education and training of optical students and trainees and a commentary on sector developments.
The UK Optical Education 2025 Report for GOC approved qualifications provides an analysis of education and training of optical students and trainees and a commentary on sector developments.
The GOC has approved the three final projects led by the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) to support education providers’ transition to the updated education and training requirements.
Teesside University has received full approval for its BSc (Hons) Clinical Optometry & MOptom (Hons) Optometry qualifications under the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Handbook: Routes to Registration in Optometry (2015) and education and training requirements (2021).
