optometrist. Dr Mary-Ann Sherratt, president of the College of Optometrists, shares her advice with Mike Hale
How would you characterise the different career paths for optometrists?
Dr Mary-Ann Sherratt: There are many different career paths for optometrists. There are the traditional routes involving working in a high street store, in a hospital, extended roles, research and a volunteering setting. There’s also the option to be an adviser – either to Locsu or to one of the optical bodies (including the College), or to NHS England or its equivalent in the other nations. Some optometrists may enter further academia; both teaching and researching and finally, many will engage in a portfolio working life, splitting their time among a range of these areas of work.
Is it useful for recently qualified high street optometrists to make a clear decision early in their careers between practising in multiples or independents?
MS: Having worked in both environments, I don’t think it is necessary for newly qualified optometrists to decide early on whether they wish to practise in a multiple or independent practice. I would suggest they try as many different types of practice, and practice environments as they can to see which suits them before making a clear decision. They can also try domiciliary as well as community work, or supervision in undergraduate teaching clinics, or even a combination of practice modes to chose what they do during the week. Personally I have always enjoyed variety in my working week.
If their end goal is to run their own practice what career strategy what would you suggest?
MS: I’m not a practice owner myself so possibly not the best person to give this advice. However, if you do want to have your own practice you should obviously do your research first – not only as to the viability of a practice in that particular setting, but also whether you wish to buy an existing business, or start from scratch. It may be more satisfying starting from scratch, but it will take you longer to get going. You should also consider whether you wish to have a franchise and buy in the business expertise.
What are the options for an optometrist looking to develop their career with higher qualifications?
MS: There is a broad range of accredited courses available in a selection of specialist areas depending on your interests and needs, such as glaucoma, medical retina, contact lens and the newly introduced paediatric eye care qualification. Depending on the level of specialism required, optometrists can obtain up to three tiers of qualification; professional certificate, higher certificate and diploma. This means optometrists can take higher qualifications bespoke to their individual career. For example, an optometrist who obtains the diploma in glaucoma may do so if they wish to take on the complex work that is more usually undertaken in a secondary care environment, whereas an optometrist who takes a number of certificates may wish to obtain a broad understanding of a few areas for work in the community and in a primary care setting.
Broadly how can these different higher qualifications benefit people’s careers?
MS: I think there are two main advantages of having a higher qualification. The first is that it enables you to demonstrate to yourself that you have attained a certain level of knowledge skill and experience. It gives you the opportunity to refresh your knowledge and skills and know that you are providing the best care possible. The other benefit is for those with clinical ambitions, a higher qualification demonstrates competence to other health care professionals and employers, and higher qualifications are likely to provide you with an advantage when you are applying for a job in which your higher qualification will be used, especially since they are recognised nationally.
Who should consider taking them?
MS: It really does depend on the setting in which you are working and whether the qualification will be used in your day-to-day job. For example, those who are seeing patients who would benefit from easier access to prescriptions on a regular basis may find that the IP qualification will be a valuable new service that you could offer to patients and potentially help you to expand your business. On the other hand, if you are not regularly seeing this type of patient, you may not get the full benefit out of the expertise you have gained and additional supply might be a more appropriate qualification.
It’s also important to remember that an IP qualification allows you to prescribe, but you will need to be able to treat disease in your chosen area, so you need another appropriate higher qualification to accompany this.
What are the benefits of qualifying for additional supply or independent prescribing?
MS: There are a number of benefits, you may be in a position to manage patients within your competence in a primary setting, and remove the need for a secondary care referral, which will expand your offering within your business and allow you to provide the best care you can for patients. They are also a great way of developing your clinical knowledge and engaging with the evidence base ensuring that you’re up to date with the most recent thinking and teaching.
How can new optometrists decide how to develop their career?
MS: Optometry has a career path for everyone, be it providing quality eye care on the high street, innovative eye health research, complex clinical work in secondary care, being a business owner, or becoming involved in the future of eye health and shaping eye health policy. It is also possible to create a work life that combines all of those options. It’s easy at the start of your career to think that there is only one type of work pattern on offer. However, there are opportunities to progress and grow the career you desire.
