Employers submit plans for optometrist apprenticeship

A pan-sector group of employers including Specsavers, Vision Express and individual companies have submitted plans to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to develop a degree level apprenticeship standard for the role of optometrist.

A statement issued by Skills for Health said the proposal was being considered through the Institute’s normal processes. The standards and end-point assessment will comply with General Optical Council requirements and be co-created by the employer groups and universities.

A spokesperson for Specsavers told Optician: 'The Institute for Apprenticeships has already established degree apprenticeships in other health disciplines and is currently considering the development of standards for a range of degrees that will support the healthcare sector. Degree level apprenticeships provide a non-traditional route to achieving a university degree for candidates who may not have seen university as a viable option, and are designed to attract talented candidates into professional roles they would not have otherwise considered.'