Anglia Ruskin University gains GOC accreditation for dispensing course

Anglia Ruskin University has secured full General Optical Council (GOC) accreditation for its Ophthalmic Dispensing (FdSc) distance learning course.

Accreditation means that students completing the part-time course will no longer be required to complete additional external examinations and can instead apply directly to be added to the GOC’s registers.

While Anglia Ruskin’s optometry and ophthalmic dispensing degrees already have GOC accreditation, the FdSc distance learning course is designed for people already working in an optical practice.

Course leader of the Ophthalmic Dispensing (FdSc), Julie Hughes, said: “Since obtaining provisional approval as a scheme provider from the GOC, our work-based course has had in excess of 150 graduates register with the GOC as dispensing opticians.

“We are pleased that the GOC has recognised the high standards that we have set in our pursuit of quality and robust systems, and we are proud to be the first university to offer a direct route to qualification for students to become dispensing opticians.”

Head of Anglia Ruskin’s Department for Vision and Hearing Sciences, Professor John Siderov, added: “We are the first university to have pioneered ophthalmic dispensing through distance learning, and so it is noteworthy that the first commendation from the GOC panel was to congratulate the team on its continued enthusiasm in the ‘pursuit of innovation in the profession’.”