Share your views on the GOC fees discussion paper

The AOP is calling on members to share their views of the General Optical Council’s (GOC) registration fee discussion paper.

The association opens the survey today (1 June), providing members with the opportunity to share their views on the paper, which explores the GOC’s approach to setting fees for registrants. After being discussed at the regulator’s March Council meeting, the discussion paper was launched on 27 April and will close on 20 July.

Read more

GOC seeks views on approach to setting registrant fees

Registrants can share views on the GOC’s approach to setting the registration renewal fee by 20 July

The AOP survey, which will take two to three minutes to complete, explores members’ views on a range of key considerations within the discussion paper. These include whether GOC fees for different registrant groups should depend on the cost associated with regulating them; whether payments should be made by instalments; whether fees should be set two or more years in advance; and whether business registrants should pay a different fee compared to individual registrants, and how that should be determined.

Open until 15 June, member responses to the AOP survey will be used to inform the association’s formal response to the GOC’s discussion paper.

AOP policy officer, Rohama Jan, told OT: “As this discussion covers the registrant fee system, which directly affects members, the AOP would like to obtain direct feedback on the proposals put forward.”

“Engaging with members through this survey will allow us to gather members feedback on what they think of the current system and their direct experiences, as well as any challenges the members face with the registration cost,” Jan highlighted.

The association emphasised that it is crucial for its response to accurately capture members’ feedback and experiences, adding that it wants to advocate for changes that members want to see.

Explaining what members should consider within the discussion paper, Jan said: “Members should be aware of the different options proposed by the GOC as part of their tiered fee system. This includes lower fees for dispensing opticians, lower fees for newly-qualified practitioners, lower fees for those on career breaks, greater discount for those on low income, and higher fees for specialists.”

“As the GOC is funded through member fees, a lower fee for any group means that the deficit will have to be obtained from another group. Additionally, we are keen to get member feedback on what principle should form the basis for the any new changes proposed by the GOC,” Jan highlighted.

Members will be able to take part in the survey through a bespoke link that will be sent via SurveyMonkey this evening. The survey is open to qualified, practising members, and final year student members.

Once submitted, the AOP will publish its response on its website.