Optician Online (October 19) reported on a change.org petition to stop optometry apprenticeships. Within two days, it had reached nearly 6,000 signatories, which although impressive, meant that 80% of GOC registrants had failed to sign it at the time of writing.
The petition’s author and the voluminous discussion suggested that apprenticeships in some way dumb down the profession, however, what did not emerge from the partisan, elitist and protectionist forum was the truth.
Firstly the apprenticeship is pitched at level 7, Master’s degree level, so higher than the level 6 Bachelor degree programmes completed by the majority of optometry graduates currently.
The petition and its signatories also fail to understand that whoever provides the education and training (they fear the large multiples will rather than universities), apprenticeship regulations require that the end point assessment, the means by which an apprentice optometrist would finally enter the register, has to be conducted by a separate organisation. While this contradicts the current nonsensical GOC thrust to have a single accountable provider of both education and assessment it means that in reality the end point assessor is likely to remain the College of Optometrists, which will continue to promote the high standards they have guarded for so long.
The recently published Apprenticeship Standard is under public consultation at haso.skillsfor health.org.uk/news/apprenticeship-standard-for-optometrist-consultation-open until 12pm Monday, December 9, so it is not too late to have your say. What is most remarkable about the Standard is how nearly identical it is to the current GOC mandated syllabus utilised by all UK optometry schools.
A little business management and leadership seems to have been added – no bad thing – and there seems to be only one other major difference. Apprenticeships answer the one major criticism of current optometry programmes from recent GOC research. Patient episodes must by definition be increased, and clinical experience made available to students earlier in the programme.
Even if the training and education changes radically, and even if the UK gains more end point assessment organisations the reality is that standards cannot drop as all courses are regulated by the GOC who we have seen recently, through their prohibition of Portsmouth University taking in new optometry students for the second consecutive year, take their role very seriously.
At their heart, degree level apprenticeships are simply a means to pay for higher education in a way that increases participation and provides opportunity to those who cannot afford the £50,000 it currently costs and/or because of family commitments cannot relocate from their place of work. It also means employers can recruit locally in those hard to fill areas with a much greater chance of retaining the employee beyond their pre-reg year than currently.
The forthcoming programme based at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland (expected first intake September 2020) and the new MSc optometry programme at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, are seemingly both apprenticeships in all respects except their name and funding model.
Blended learning optometry on a ‘learn while you earn’ basis at UCLan is similar in operation to several ophthalmic dispensing programmes (which are also trying for apprenticeship status). In fact students have to complete six semesters of ophthalmic dispensing to BSc level before embarking on six semesters of optometry followed by the traditional pre-registration period. Full time work in practice is supplemented by up to 16 hours study per week using an online learning platform and regular ‘block release’ at university.
The first intake of dispensing opticians upgrading to become optometrists are part way through two years solid study before commencing their pre-reg year with the College. The first cohort of experienced optical assistants who have started the integrated Masters programme at the beginning will complete at least 12 semesters of study before moving to their pre-reg year. Only having four or five weeks off per year means a fast track route to become dispensing opticians in two years if students wish to leave at that point or become dual qualified. The course squeezes six traditional academic years into four, so can hardly be said to be lacking in breadth or depth.
Optometry schools of this new breed are no doubt poised to capitalise on apprenticeship funding, and also on dispensing optician apprentices en route. Apprenticeship levy payers (companies with payroll over £3m including relatively modest regional optical groups) will be able to draw down the tax they have paid to support the entire cost of each apprentice optometrist. Non levy payers, including independent practices, can claim 95% of the cost.
This means an independent practice owner, planning her succession, could train her daughter or son, or her dispensing optician, as an optometrist, for just a few thousand pounds. The beauty of this is not just that it is great value for money, it is that you will be training someone who you know from the outset is made of the ‘right stuff’, is able to develop a rapport with patients, turns up on time, fits in with your team, and genuinely wants to be there. What’s not to like?