Asda Opticians launches pre-reg programme

Asda Opticians has launched its first programme for pre-registration optometrists with vacancies now open for the 2025–2026 cohort.

Asda Opticians is recruiting 10 to 15 positions in the first year of the programme, with applications closing on 17 October 2024. Details can be found on the Asda job website.

The optical group has partnered with Optom Academy, who will provide a training and education package for the pre-registration programme.

This will include face-to-face clinical workshops to refine clinical skills, mock objective structured clinical examinations, and virtual sessions with educational materials.

Asda Opticians shared that pre-registration optometrists will work alongside supervisors and will be supported by practice team colleagues and managers.

The company highlighted that 2025 will mark the first time Asda Opticians has offered pre-reg placements in practice.

Kristy Jackson, optical professional development manager at Asda Opticians, said: “This programme has been long in the making, and we are delighted to partner with Optom Academy and provide our pre-registration optometrists with the training, education, and support needed to develop their skills to become fully qualified optometrists.”

Asda Opticians are engaged in the FODO ETR implementation group, with a spokesperson explaining the optical group are: “Building relationships with the universities so we can transition to the new GOC education requirements for the move to MOptom qualifications.”

The introduction of the pre-reg programme forms the latest branch of Asda’s Professional Development programme.

Asda Opticians recently launched a Level 6 dispensing optician apprenticeship and contact lens diploma, with both cohorts starting the courses this summer.

The apprenticeship was designed to provide optical assistants with the support to become dispensing opticians, with 13 members of staff now studying for the qualification while continuing to work with Asda.