Response to GOC fee-setting consultation calls for transparent and proportionate structure

The AOP’s response to the GOC’s fee setting consultation states future registrant fees should not add unnecessary costs for registrants

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Emily McCormick

23 July 2026

Any changes to the setting of the General Optical Council’s (GOC) registrant fee should be transparent, proportionate and not increase costs unnecessarily, the AOP has highlighted when publishing its response to the regulator’s fee setting consultation.

The consultation, which was published as part of the GOC’s 2025–2030 corporate strategy and closed earlier this week, outlined possible ways in which the regulator could set its annual fees.

The consultation focused on questions around a scale of fees for different registrant groups dependent on the cost of regulating them, registration fees being paid in instalments, and the fee optometry businesses should pay for registration.

To ensure the response submitted by the AOP reflected its members’ views, the association ran a member survey, and held discussions with both its policy committee and Council. The survey gained over 800 responses and helped shape the AOP’s formal response, which can be read in full on its website.

The AOP said that it broadly agreed with the reform of the GOC’s fee setting system and the set of principles intended to inform a framework for future fee policies, but stressed that the level of the GOC fee remains a key concern for its members.

The association noted that in its survey findings, respondents highlighted that the rising registrant fee presents a significant pressure when paired with inflation, stagnant salaries and rising cost of living.

However, generally, the opportunity for introducing a differential fee system was welcomed, as long as it is proportionate to registrant circumstance and does not create excessive administrative costs that end up being added to the GOC fee.

Sharing insight into what members said in its survey, the AOP said members supported reduced or paused fees for registrants on career breaks, particularly maternity leave, if they are not undertaking paid work, and expressed support for higher fees for business registrants than for individuals, which the AOP emphasised should be based on business size or turnover.

The association highlighted that any changes made to the fee structure should keep overall costs under control; make fees fairer by reflecting registrants’ circumstances; provide flexible payment options; support people on career breaks; avoid penalising specialist qualifications; charge businesses in proportion to their size, and improve transparency about how fees are set and spent.

AOP clinical and policy director, Dr Peter Hampson, said: “Our submission reflects consistent feedback from members on the need for a fee system that is fair, proportionate and transparent. Registrants are facing significant financial pressures, and any future model must recognise this reality rather than add to it.”

Hampson explained that the AOP has urged the GOC to ensure that proposed changes are evidence-based and genuinely supportive of the profession.

“A fee framework that builds trust and reflects the circumstances of registrants will be crucial as the GOC considers its next steps,” he added.