08 January 2016
Figures released yesterday (7 January) have revealed that 98% of all registrants met the requirements of the 2013–15 enhanced CET cycle by the 31 December 2015 deadline.
According to the General Optical Council (GOC), 412 registrants out of a total 21,158 face removal from the registers for not meeting the CET requirements, including 255 optometrists and 157 dispensing opticians. Of this total, the GOC confirmed that 75 registrants had already informed the registrar that they intend to retire or come off the registers.
In line with GOC rules, some registrants may be able to demonstrate exceptional circumstances for failing to meet the CET requirements. It light of this, the GOC estimates that the number of those removed is likely to drop.
A further 12 contact lens opticians face losing their specialty registration, although OT understands that they will be able to continue practising as dispensing opticians.
GOC head of education and standards, Marcus Dye, commented: “I am delighted that almost all registrants completed their CET by the 31 December 2015 deadline. CET is vital in ensuring registrants keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date so they can continue to deliver good care to their patients."
He continued: “We will be writing shortly to all registrants who did not meet the requirements to explain the steps that we will take before they are removed from the register, including the appeal process.”
The enhanced CET cycle ran from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015 and all registrants were required to obtain 36 CET points, adjusted pro-rata for those who joined the register later in the cycle.
In total, 99% of optometrists and contact lens opticians completed the mandatory peer review requirement, for which this was the first cycle it was required.
The new 2016–18 CET cycle started on 1 January and will run until 31 December 2018.
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