In focus: DO angered by lack of CET funding

For more than a decade many dispensing opticians in England have deemed the distribution of CET funding as unfair.

At present, most optometrists are eligible to receive a CET grant of £540 to gain the 36 points they need each cycle to register with the GOC, but there is no such funding for dispensing opticians.

This is despite DOs needing the same number of points, across a range of competencies, with half needed through interactive CET. Those registered as contact lens opticians must tick even more boxes for specialist registration, including peer review.

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has for some time argued its members should receive funding for CET, which has been compulsory since July 2005 when grants were first introduced for optometrists.