GOC updates: registrant fee uplift, CPD reform and emerging sight test models

OT presents six insights from the latest meeting of the General Optical Council

6 min read

A group of professionals take notes at a meeting

Getty/Mikolette

19 December 2025

A consultation on proposals for CPD reform and new guidance on maintaining appropriate sexual boundaries were discussed at the latest meeting of the General Optical Council (17 December, held online).

The council also considered findings from research exploring the possible effects of separating the sight test by time, place and/or person. Below, OT outlines six key takeaways from the meeting.

1 GOC approves £10 fee uplift for optometrists and dispensing opticians

The GOC has approved a 2.5% (£10) fee uplift for optometrists and dispensing opticians in 2026–2027 – with the fee rising to £425.

The fees for optical students (£30) and those on low incomes (£290) remain frozen.

A statement from the GOC highlighted that downsizing to a more cost-effective office and reducing spending on external legal fees by enhancing in-house expertise had helped the regulator to keep fee rises below inflation. Inflation in November 2025 was 3.5%.

Speaking at the meeting, GOC member, Tim Parkinson, welcomed the regulator’s focus on operational efficiency and achieving cost-savings.

“I think it's incredibly important that we continue to demonstrate this in future years as well, given the commitment we made within our strategy to deliver value for money for registrants,” he said.

GOC member, Poonam Sharma, highlighted that a balanced and proportionate approach had been taken in increasing registrant fees.

“I wanted to recognise the significant work that the team has taken to achieve operational efficiencies,” she said.

“The cost of the registrant fee isn’t always borne by the individual registrant – often employers are picking up the fees for multiple registrants. So being able to achieve a fee increase that is below inflation gives a sense of reassurance to our registrants and employers around the approach we have taken,” Sharma highlighted.

2 No more CPD points? GOC consults on long-term changes to education

The GOC discussed a consultation on a series of proposed CPD reforms at the meeting. All of the changes would require legislative change and are unlikely to be implemented before the next general election.

A statement from the GOC highlighted that the proposals include moving away from a points-based system to an outcomes-based approach that sets “broad expectations” for registrants.

The GOC would also leverage the role of business registrants, with employers playing a greater role in identifying and progressing the learning and development needs of optometrists and dispensing opticians.

Under the proposals, the GOC would no longer approve and audit CPD providers – with the statement highlighting that the GOC is the only healthcare regulator at present that fulfils this function.

Introducing the CPD consultation at the meeting, GOC director of regulatory strategy, Steve Brooker, addressed the degree of change that the proposals represent.

“I think it is fair to say that if we were to remove the point system, that would represent a significant change to GOC regulatory arrangements,” he said.

“I would also suggest it's the logical conclusion of a journey that we've already started with registrants to remove the level of prescription in our CPD arrangements, and it places trust in registrants to design CPD that meets their own needs, so that they maintain their skills and develop the new skills and meet their career aspirations,” Brooker emphasised.

Addressing scepticism around removing GOC oversight of many aspects of CPD, Brooker highlighted that the proposals are “not a free-for-all.”

“There are a series of checks and balances. There is guidance, the compliance declaration, the review of CPD records and the prospect that registrants could be removed from the register for inadequate CPD,” he highlighted.

Brooker highlighted that the regulator would pay close attention to views expressed through the consultation, which is set to launch in early 2026.

“We will want to listen carefully to the feedback we receive in the consultation, but I think we need to decide the direction of travel,” he said.

I think it is fair to say that if we were to remove the point system, that would represent a significant change to GOC regulatory arrangements

Steve Brooker, director of regulatory strategy at the GOC

3 Sight test research explores emerging models – including teleoptometry and delegating pre-screening

The GOC meeting considered research the optical regulator commissioned into the effects of separating the sight test by time, place and/or person.

A research team by Glasgow Caledonian University conducted a scoping review and Delphi study on two areas of practice: delegation of pre-screening or triage checks within the sight test, and emerging sight test models that incorporate teleoptometry.

While the Delphi study did not reach a consensus on whether separating eye care components would be safe for low-risk patients, there was broad agreement that it was not clinically appropriate for high-risk patient groups.

The scoping review highlighted the potential benefits of separation by improving eye care delivery through innovation – however, it acknowledged the lack of data and evidence to fully assess the effect of separating aspects of the sight test.

The GOC is currently developing revisions to its 2013 statement on the testing of sight, and will seek council approval of a public consultation on the proposed changes in March 2026

4 GOC approves equality, diversity and inclusion policy

The optical regulator approved a new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policy at the meeting.

GOC equality, diversity and inclusion manager, Joanna Murphy, highlighted that the document is the GOC’s first organisation-wide EDI policy.

“Until now, our commitments were spread across different documents, strategies and pieces of work,” she said.

“This policy will give us a clear, consistent foundation. It reflects our ambitions as a regulator, our statutory duties and our expectations, and it also helps colleagues to understand how EDI connects to their day-to-day roles and responsibilities,” Murphy explained.

GOC council member, Professor Hema Radhakrishnan, highlighted the fundamental importance of the EDI policy to the optical regulator’s work.

“This is critical for our strategy to work, because only when there is a psychologically safe culture within the GOC can we deliver on our role as a regulator for the profession,” she said.

5 New guidance on maintaining appropriate sexual boundaries and care of vulnerable patients to be published

The GOC has approved two pieces of guidance on maintaining sexual boundaries and care of patients in vulnerable circumstances following a consultation.

The optical regulator received 23 responses during the consultation, which ran from the end of July until October.

A statement from the GOC highlighted that the optical regulator has taken into account feedback – revising both pieces of guidance to improve clarity and ensure the correct emphasis.

6 GOC asked to outline action on antisemitism and other forms of racism as part of Lord Mann review

As part of written documents prepared for the meeting, GOC chief executive, Leonie Milliner, confirmed that the GOC has outlined current and planned work to tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism following a request by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The request is part of a rapid review led by Lord John Mann into how healthcare regulators can tackle antisemitism and racism that was launched in October.

Milliner informed council: “The team worked quickly to pull together our submission, which highlighted existing work and future activities across our regulatory functions from education and training through to fitness to practise.”

The GOC will be asked to approve specific activities – including training for members on this topic – at part of an EDI action plan at the regulator’s next council meeting in March 2026.