Features
Changes in the law
Lost in a maze of registering for web sites and counting points? OPTICIAN begins a short series answering frequently asked questions on different aspects of CET. This week we look at what statutory CET is and how it is being enforced
What do I need to do?
Every practitioner - optometrist or dispensing optician - registered with the General Optical Council on June 30, 2005 needs to earn 36 general Continuing Education and Training (CET) points by December 31, 2006.
Anyone not doing so will ultimately be erased from the register in 2007.
So I need to earn 36 points before the end of 2006?
Yes. But you can also carry over points from the voluntary period. The first full cycle is for three years ending December 2006. The first 18 months (January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005) was voluntary, the second 18 months is statutory.
Registrants can carry over a maximum of 24 general points and 12 specialist points from the voluntary period to their final total.
Is it the same for optometrists and dispensing opticians?
Yes. Everyone has to get 36 points. Dispensing opticians on the Contact Lens Speciality Register on June 30, 2005 have to earn 18 specialist points by the deadline.
I'm a contact lens optician. Does that mean I need to earn a total of 54 points?
No. Dispensing opticians on the Contact Lens Speciality Register can count as many as 16 of the required 18 specialist points towards their general points total.
Up to 12 of these can be double counted if they were gained in the voluntary period and a further four can be double counted in the statutory period. Therefore, CLOs need to earn 38 points: 20 general points and 18 specialist points.
What about optometrists on the contact lens list?
Optometrists do not have to be on a specialist contact lens list because they can fit contact lenses on initial registration. However, the GOC keeps a voluntary contact lens list for optometrists.
To be included on this, optometrists need to earn six CL specialist points per calendar year - 18 in the three-year cycle - to stay on the list, but this list is purely voluntary.
What if I joined the register after June 30, 2005?
You will need to earn one general point for each whole month of registration. So if you joined on September 23, 2005, you will need to earn one point for October, November and December this year and 12 points for next year, so a total of 15 general points. If you are also earning specialist points, you will need one of these for every two months registered.
Half points are rounded down to the nearest full points. So the same person as above would need seven specialist points to stay on a specialist list.
These points, general or specialist, can be earned at any time before the deadline.
Is there funding to help pay for all this CET?
Yes. If you're an optometrist or an OMP you can claim 270 as 'payment for loss of earnings in respect of CET' for 2004. For 2005 the figure is 425.
Controversially, dispensing opticians have not been allocated any funds by the Department of Health.
How do I get the money?
You need to be quick. You only have until October 31 to make the claim for 2004. But remember you can only claim for the CET if you did CET last year, which was, of course, voluntary.
If you are an independent optician, you need to apply to the Department of Health using the Claim for Payment of CET Grant form which is available at www.dh.gov.uk (find the ophthalmic services section).
If you work for a larger organisation, such as one of the multiples, there may be a centralised application for the grant, so you should check with your human resources or professional services department.
I don't do any NHS work in my practice, can I still claim the money?
No. Only optometrists and OMPs contracted to the GOS can make a claim.
I am currently on maternity leave but plan to return to work in July 2006. Do I need to do anything?
Yes. If you maintain your registration while you're on maternity leave, or during any other kind of career break, you will still need to have gained the required number of CET points by the December 2006 deadline.
If you have come off the register and you return, you will be treated as though you have been on the register for up to 12 months 'immediately prior' to restoration, going back as far as July 1, 2005, but not before. You will need to have gained the equivalent of one point per whole month for the 12 months before restoration.
Once restored you will need one general point for each whole month of registration up to December 31, 2006. If you are earning specialist points, you will need one of these for every two months to December 31 2006.
I am currently studying for a postgraduate masters. Will I need to do CET?
Afraid so. You will still need to get 36 general points as normal. If, however, the course you are doing is CET accredited, you will be able to earn points from it.
I am studying for my optometry degree, should I start collecting CET points now?
No. Students and pre-registration optometrists cannot earn CET points, unless you are already a registered dispensing optician, in which case you will need to collect your points to maintain your registration as a DO, while you train to be an optometrist.
I plan to retire in December 2006 - do I need to do CET?
No. If you're happy not to be registered after you retire, you don't have to do CET. If you plan to retire on January 1, 2007 or later, you must do CET like anyone else.
I live overseas, do I still need to do CET?
Yes. If you want to remain registered in the UK. There are several ways to do CET abroad. Firstly, and most obviously, you can take part in distance learning provided by optician and the like.
Secondly, you can urge CET providers local to you to register their CET on www.cetoptics.com so that when you do CET with them it is approved by the GOC. You can also apply yourself as a CET user to get overseas CET approved, but this must be done before the event takes place.
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