View from ABDO: Concerns about the regulator

Two years on since the GOC announced its review of education, ABDO is extremely concerned about the lack of engagement and regard for our profession by the regulator.

The GOC’s core function is one of public protection and it is for this reason we have our current level of education for dispensing opticians. The majority of DOs have a level 6 qualification, which was independently assessed by OFQUAL. The introduction of a level 5 course in recent years has introduced a two-tier dispensing optician, against the best interest of the public. We would suggest the one training institute, which also offers FBDO level 6, raises its level of education for all its dispensing opticians to the same level. However, our regulator sees down-grading all the profession to a level 5 minimum as a preferred direction. How can this be viewed as good public protection when our level 6 FBDO qualification has consistently proven to be robust and safe?