Optics has secured the right to be included in the government's Skills for Health (SfH) programme, an independent voluntary initiative to review occupational standards and competencies.
SfH will take over the responsibility for reviewing and developing relevant qualifications, national occupational standards and competencies, with the aim of 'bringing them up to date', according to the Optical Sector Steering Group (OSSG) which lobbied for this inclusion.
Competence tools to be developed by SfH will be aimed at assisting practitioners with workforce planning, staff appraisals, identifying skills gaps and managing the training and development of existing staff and new recruits.
One of SfH's first tasks will be to work with employers, professional organisations and awarding bodies to move forward the existing National Qualifications Framework qualifications into a new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
Another priority will be to develop an apprenticeship framework that meets the needs of the optical sector.
OSSG chair Gordon Jones, said: 'The sector was keen to be represented in its entirety by one sector skills council and we are delighted that SfH has agreed to take us on.
'SfH's overarching objective of 'better skills, better jobs, better health' resonates with the sector's own and we look forward to working together to ensure that the whole optical sector has a workforce with the skills and competencies it needs to deliver the highest quality ophthalmic products and care.'
Wendy Albutt, learning and development manager, vocational qualifications at Dollond & Atchison, added: 'The way forward is now much clearer for the specialism of our sector. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with SfH who I believe have the best interests of our sector firmly in mind.'
Welcoming optics to the SfH initiative, John Rogers, chief executive of Skills for Health, said: 'We look forward to working with the UK optical sector to ensure that the workforce development tools and qualifications available are relevant and accessible.'