The GOC has launched a consultation into how to develop the current system of CET for the future.
The consultation, which is taking place until September 11, is in response to a rising demand for eye health services and technology advancements in the optical sector due to an ageing population and GOC registrants being required to undertake increasingly more clinical work.
Optical professionals are being asked to give their views on how the GOC can help them to continue to develop new skills so they can put more emphasis on self-directed learning.
The findings of this consultation are to shape the new system, which is to start in 2020 after a transition year in 2019. Registrants can achieve 12 CET points from activities during this time.
Alistair Bridge, GOC’s director of strategy, said: ‘The existing system of Continuing Education and Training has up to now been effective in safeguarding the health of the public, but as the optical sector changes it needs to evolve to support practitioners in maintaining high standards of patient care. We want to use the current system as a foundation upon which to build new elements that help the sector move with the times.
