Optical organisations

The Optical Benevolent Fund saw its highest number of enquiries last year due to the impact of the pandemic on optical professionals and their families

For the second year running, OT  and Optocoach have partnered to offer an Instagram giveaway

The General Optical Council agreed to extend the changes for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years

While a number of previously raised concerns have been addressed in the new requirements, the AOP committed to monitoring developments, sharing that “This does not mean our concerns about the ESR have all been resolved”

It is anticipated that most education providers would work towards admitting students to approved qualifications that meet the new standards from the 2023/24 or 2024/25 academic year

The changes will be applicable to the next undergraduate academic cohort, and to this year’s incoming Scheme for Registration trainees

The College of Optometrists confirmed last week that remote Stage One assessments for pre-registration optometrists could begin from Monday 27 July.

Universities have suspended face-to-face teaching, whilst the College of Optometrists is stopping assessment activity on the Scheme for Registration

A gender split that sees more women train and qualify as optometrists continues, according to the latest Scheme for Registration report

Respondents welcome flexibility and emphasis on practical experience in draft standards, while raising concerns about consistency