The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a consultation on proposals to amend the competencies which must be demonstrated in order to be granted a qualification as an optometrist, a dispensing optician (DO), or to obtain specialty registration as a DO in contact lens practice.
This consultation follows on from one in June 2007, during which the Council consulted on unifying the framework within which its competencies are stated. This move was designed to ensure a common structure and terminology between core competencies for qualification as optometrist, DO and the specialty competencies for Dos in CL practice. Following the consultation it was decided that the GOC should adopt the framework proposed in the consultation document. This was based a framework used by the Optometrists Association Australia.
The Council also invited the College of Optometrists and Association of British Dispensing Opticians to revisit the current core competencies and put forward proposals as how these competencies should be developed to be set within the revised framework. Both bodies presented their responses to the Council in
November 2008. It was agreed that these proposals would be consulted on before being presented to the GOC's Standard Committee in late January 2009.
Registrants now have an opportunity give feedback on the revised framework and their opinion on whether it adds clarity to the process.
The consultation ends on January 15 2009 and can view on the GOC website: www.optical.org
