The GOC on year two of the CPD cycle

CPD points: pacing learning across the cycle

As the new year begins, all fully-qualified registrants who were on our GOC register in 2025 – the first year of this cycle – should have obtained and logged at least six CPD points. Whilst not a requirement, we strongly recommend that registrants obtain six points per year to spread their learning evenly across the cycle.

Of course, being just over a third of the way through the cycle, registrants who want to stay ‘on track’ with the cycle’s requirements would ideally have logged at least a third of their required points by now. So, for those required to complete 36 points over the cycle, that equates to approximately 12 points at this stage. Data from the end of December suggest that a little over nine in 10 registrants are on track, which is great news.

Completing CPD consistently helps registrants keep their skills up-to-date and stay on top of the latest developments in the profession. Those who leave most of their CPD towards the end of the cycle may find themselves under increased pressure or at a higher risk that an unforeseen event will affect their ability to fulfil their requirements.

Not all CPD points need to come from provider-led activities. Self-directed CPD allows registrants to gain points from learning that supports their professional practice but isn’t delivered by a GOC-approved provider.

Many everyday activities can count, including reading journals, attending webinars from outside the optical sector, volunteering in wider healthcare, preparing a talk, or mentoring a colleague. As long as registrants have learnt something which they can apply to their practice, it can count towards their CPD points.

Completing CPD consistently helps registrants keep their skills up-to-date and stay on top of the latest developments in the profession

Reviewing the Personal Development Plan

The start of the new year is also an ideal time for registrants to revisit their personal development plan. Career aspirations, areas of interest and practice roles can evolve, and registrants are encouraged to log in to MyCPD to ensure their PDP still reflects their learning needs and update it if neede

For registrants yet to log a PDP on MyCPD, we’d encourage them to do this as soon as possible. Completing a PDP helps structure learning across the cycle so that CPD activities align with scope of practice and professional goals, rather than becoming a ‘box-ticking’ exercise.

It is also essential for the reflective exercise at the end of the cycle where registrants consider with a peer how their learning has developed over time. A well-considered PDP can make this discussion more straightforward and meaningful.

Spreading CPD activity across the cycle helps reduce pressure, keeps learning relevant and supports high-quality patient care — making CPD a meaningful part of everyday practice rather than a last-minute task

Learning from peers

Registrants are also reminded that at least one peer review must be completed during each CPD cycle. Data from the end of December shows that around one in ten registrants have completed a peer review so far in the current cycle.

Peer reviews are an opportunity to meet with other registrants to discuss experiences in practice and exchange ideas about ways of handling them.

We know that our registrants have a lot of good practice to share and peer review is there to help them learn from each other to improve their quality of care.

It can be completed either through a GOC-approved provider-led activity or via a registrant-led peer review arranged independently.

Optometrists and dispensing opticians can act as peers for one another for the purposes of peer review. Registrants with a specialty must complete peer review with a registrant holding the same specialty, with the exception of contact lens opticians who may undertake peer review with optometrists.

CPD: what to focus on

With the CPD cycle now well underway, this is a timely opportunity for registrants to check they’re on track with their points, review their PDP and plan for peer review. Spreading CPD activity across the cycle helps reduce pressure, keeps learning relevant and supports high-quality patient care — making CPD a meaningful part of everyday practice rather than a last-minute task.

Further information is available on the CPD pages on the GOC website, in our CPD: A guide for registrants, or by emailing the CPD team directly.