Optical organisations

The programme will see its first students graduate this summer

A collaboration across sector bodies, SPOKE, has completed its first project to produce indicative guidance supporting qualification providers in meeting the new standards

Following the 2021 registrant survey, the regulator took a closer look into levels of job satisfaction and the groups most likely to make a change in their career in the coming years

The trailblazer group behind the pathway acknowledged concerns raised around the submission of the proposals and said a “hiatus” would enable time for a review of feedback

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

The time to update the GOC’s requirements for independent prescribers is now, explains the regulator’s director of education, Leonie Milliner

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

Optometrists are encouraged to sign up for the National Optical Conference, which is being held as a series of virtual sessions between Wednesday 25 November and Thursday 3 December