Overseas registration consultation begins

A consultation on changes to international requirements for registration with the GOC has been launched by the regulator. 

Optical professionals who have qualified outside of the UK and Switzerland and wish to join the GOC register, currently must be assessed against the GOC’s handbook requirements (Quality Assurance Handbooks for Optometry, 2015, and Ophthalmic Dispensing, 2011).  

Successful applicants then go on to undertake either the College of Optometrists’ Scheme for Registration or Association of British Dispensing Opticians examinations. 

The GOC said a proposed revised approach would mean international applications would be assessed against education and training requirements, which were updated in February 2021.  

The regulator would no longer undertake individual registration assessments prior to applying to be admitted to a GOC approved qualification.