GOC warns students of failure to meet deadline

The GOC has warned students that failure to return retention forms could result in exclusion from examinations and clinical training.

The deadline of July 15 is fast approaching, and the Council is urging optometry and dispensing students to complete and return their forms, together with the £20 payment to remain on the registers for the 2008/09 academic year.

Retention forms were posted out to all students last month and to date only one fifth (19 per cent) of applications have been returned, leaving around 3,491 registrants in danger of being removed on September 1.

GOC deputy registrar and director of education Dian Taylor said: 'GOC registration should not be taken lightly. It is a legal requirement and is crucial to patients' protection and well being. Our advice to students is to act now - getting applications in before the summer break could save a lot of worry later.'