AOP establishes new student and early career positions on its Council

The AOP has announced the establishment of four new positions on its Council, designed to better reflect the student and early career journey within optometry.

The positions, which focus on optometrists in training and newly-qualified optometrists, aim to ensure the association’s Council remains relevant, resilient and representative as optometry education and career pathways evolve, the AOP said.

The AOP confirmed that once appointed, the new positions replace its Council’s current student and pre-registration Councillor roles.

The new roles include: Optometrist in Training 1 (OIT1), which will be open to student members in the penultimate year of an undergraduate optometry degree at a UK university; Optometrist in Training 2 (OIT2), which will be open to student members in their final year of an undergraduate optometry degree at a UK university; Newly Qualified 1 (NQ1), which is a position suitable for members undertaking their final qualifying exams or who have recently qualified, Newly Qualified 2 (NQ2), suitable for members who are seeking or currently in their first employed role, within their first year post qualification.

Applications for the designated positions are open from 8 June to 6 July.

Successful applicants will officially join AOP Council on 1 September.

Reflecting on the new roles, AOP chief executive, Adam Sampson, said: “Introducing these roles is a crucial step in ensuring the continuity of representation on Council. As education and early career pathways shift, we need structures that can adapt with them. These positions build our pipeline of experience and offer members at the start of their career a clear progression path to shape the profession as it develops.”

The model provides clear representation during every phase of an optometrist’s journey on the AOP Council

OT spoke to AOP director of clinical and policy, Dr Peter Hampson, to learn more about the establishment of the new Council positions.

What prompted the review of the existing Council student and newly-qualified representation structure?

It is essential that representation on the AOP Council reflects the full journey of new optometrists entering the profession. From student through to early career, each stage of this transition carries distinct challenges, and Council should be structured to capture and represent these experiences.

With the implementation of the General Optical Council’s (GOC) Education and Training Review (ETR), the move to a four-year integrated Master’s model (five years in Scotland) and as some universities partner with the College of Optometrists placement programme of Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP), the term ‘Pre-registration,’ and by extension the role of ‘Pre-registration Councillor’ will soon become outdated.

Why does the AOP feel this is the right time to introduce the new OIT and NQ Council positions?

To future-proof Council roles, ensure continuity of representation and support future Councillor development and nurturing of talent, both the terminology and structure of the early-stage Council positions need to be updated to a new future facing model. These proposed changes will ensure Council remains relevant, representative and resilient to the upcoming changes.

How does the new structure better reflect today’s optometry training journey?

The new structure better aligns with the academic year, with appointments being made in September. It will hopefully better capture the unique challenges faced by those in their final years of study, sitting exams, becoming newly-qualified and starting their optometry journey as the education space evolves, allowing Council to be better connected to the voices, experiences and challenges faced by graduate and newly qualified optometrists in the UK.

The AOP is ahead of the curve and is actively moving to harness the experience of those living through the new routes to registration

What advantages does the staged progression model for these positions offer?

The model provides clear representation during every phase of an optometrist’s journey on the AOP Council. It supports the continuity and retention of talented Councillors by establishing a seamless pathway ideally from OIT1→ OIT2 → NQ1 → NQ2. This reduces fragmentation of an optometrists’ journey through the ranks of Council, allowing for these younger members of the profession to have a more solid grounding in what the AOP is all about.  Additionally, there will be better opportunity for mutual peer support of the fresher members of the profession.

Was continuity of representation a key objective behind creating a clearer pathway through training and early practice?

Absolutely – the new structure will better capture the experience of optometrists who are transitioning from training into their first frontline job in practice. Additionally, the nurturing of an AOP “talent pipeline” from student through to potential future Board member was always a core aspect of our thinking.

Will progression from one role to the next be automatic or based on performance and suitability?

Progression from one role to the next will ultimately be a conversation between the Councillor and the Appointments Committee to ensure the member would like to continue and feels engaged with Council and the profession. But the default position from their initial appointment is that they are expected to progress through. We envision that the Appointments Committee role should largely provide a check and balance over a full scrutiny.

What qualities or attributes is the AOP looking for in OIT applicants?  

A willingness to learn, the confidence to represent and speak up in meetings, and an interest in shaping the profession for the future generation of eye care professionals.

How do you hope these changes will encourage more students and newly qualified professionals to engage with the AOP?

We envision that the continuity and support that comes with consolidating the Council pathway through the early career stages will be more attractive to potential applicants – the line through is clearer and more comprehensive.