Request a change of membership

If your circumstances have changed or will be changing over the next few months, you might be eligible to change your grade of membership. The most common requests are:

Working more than 100 days 

Our concessionary grade of membership is available to individuals working up to 100 days in the calendar year.  For clarity, any work carried out on a day in either a self-employed or employed capacity is included as a full day within the 100-day total. If you are on a concessionary grade of membership and think you’ll exceed the 100-day total, our Full UK or Dispensing Optician grade is most suitable to you.

Parental leave – free for up to 12 months

Available to members who have been a member for at least 12 continuous months and will not be practising for a period due to parental leave (including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave). Admission to this grade is subject to provision of the standard MATB1 Certificate or Birth or Adoption Certificate. 

Newly retired – free

Available to existing members who have fully retired from professional practice, no longer involved in ownership or management of a practice in such a manner that they will be responsible as an optometrist or dispensing optician for the work undertaken by the practice. This grade also requires confirmation that the member is no longer on the GOC register or intending to be removed at the next available point.

Career break 

If you’ve stopped practising and intend to practise in the future, this is the most appropriate grade of membership for you. No paid optometry or optometry related work can be carried out during the calendar year in any country whilst on this grade and must be requested at the beginning of the year. It’s not possible to move to this grade of membership during the year.

If you’re planning to return to work, you’ll be able to request the most relevant category of membership. Please read our grades and rates of membership to find the most suitable membership for you.

How to request a change of membership

Simply complete our online request form below, providing as much information as possible and we’ll be in touch within five working days.