Students rush to meet registration deadline

Hundreds of optometry students have registered since the GOC delivered its pre-Christmas warning that unregistered individuals could face prosecution in 2006.

However, estimates are still being made as to how many have not responded to the advice. It could number over 250.

A total of nearly 400 students have registered since the GOC urged students to respond late last year (News, December 2) and at January 6 a total of 3,888 students were on the register.

A spokeswoman could not give a precise figure of the missing numbers, but said the Council was working with the universities and colleges to determine exactly how many students have failed to meet the deadline.

Pre-registration students who fail to register also run the risk of having entries in their log books discounted, going back to September 1.

Education providers were advised last year that, as of now, unregistered students attending for an exam requiring patient contact must be sent home.

Supervisors who allow unregistered students to work with patients may also risk prosecution under the Council's fitness to practise rules, and course managers and supervisors are responsible for checking that students are registered before they undertake clinical work.

Towards the end of 2005 the GOC estimated that just over 3,500 students were on the register, with 670 students - including 185 pre-registration students - yet to return their forms (November 28, 2005 estimates).

Registrar and GOC chief executive Peter Coe said this week he was pleased with the outcome of the warning.

'Though we don't have precise figures yet, it's clear that we are now close to full student registration,' he said. 'I am very grateful to the educational establishments for their cooperation, and I am aware that this has added to their workload at a busy time.'

This week the Council was considering the position of students who remain unregistered. From this month all UK applicants for full registration will be asked to show proof of student registration before admission to practising registers.