20 January 2026
The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a new consultation on proposed reforms to its continuing professional development (CPD) scheme.
Suggestions including moving away from a minimum points-based system towards a scheme focused more on outcomes, as the GOC continues its move towards “a more flexible and less prescriptive” system, suggesting this would enable registrants to have more freedom in designing their own CPD approach.
Some of the suggested changes would be expected to begin in a phased approach from the 2028–30 CPD cycle.
Proposals include adjusting the allocation of points for different activities to reduce the overall volume of CPD activities needed to achieve the required total points.
Using the points system to better incentivise the pursuit of post-registration qualifications forms one of the considerations, as well as reviewing the CPD domains.
Proposals include removing requirements that may hinder registrants’ use of self-directed CPD, including ending the need for minimum provider-led sessions and the need for a reflective statement for each self-directed activity.
Amendments to the GOC’s Standards for Optical Businesses would leverage the role of business registrants in supporting CPD, the regulator proposed, suggesting that businesses have a closer relationship with registrants to support individual learning and development needs.
CPD provider audit could also see changes, as the GOC said: “As the only regulator currently approving and auditing CPD providers, and with registrant satisfaction with CPD provision reported to be high, the GOC proposes to end provider approval and audit arrangements.”
Proposals include reducing the number of CPD events requiring prior approval from the GOC before CPD providers can move from provisionally approved to fully approved status, and phasing out CPD provider audits and withdrawing the GOC’s Standards for CPD Providers.
Aspects of the CPD scheme, including the minimum point requirements, are prescribed in legislation through the CPD Rules 2021, the GOC noted, so further proposals would be subject to legislative change.
These include removing the points system entirely and ending the need for the GOC to approve CPD providers.
Also included in this set of proposals is a new approach to compliance that would see registrants making an annual declaration as part of registration renewal that they have completed sufficient learning to maintain competence and kept adequate records. The GOC would review a sample of records and registration could be removed if CPD is assessed as inadequate, subject to remediation and appeal.
Steve Brooker, director of regulatory strategy at the GOC, said: “We want to complete our journey, begun through the previous reforms implemented in 2022, towards a more flexible and less prescriptive CPD system.”
“Our proposals aim to maximise registrants’ freedom to undertake learning that is relevant to their personal scope of practice and supports their career progression, while reducing the regulatory burden on registrants and CPD providers,” he said.
Brooker continued: “We intend to go as far as possible within the current legislation towards our vision for reform for the next cycle, with further changes, including the removal of points, following legislative change.”
The GOC will run online consultation events with registrants and CPD providers during the consultation period.
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