General Opitcal Council Warns, 'Student Retention Deadline Fast Approaching', UK

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 20 May 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The GOC today warned all registered students that only eight weeks remain until the 15 July retention deadline. Optometry and dispensing optics students must complete and return their retention form, together with £20 payment, if they are to stay on the registers for the 2008/9 academic year.

Retention forms were posted out to all optometry and dispensing optics students last month. To date, only 19 per cent of applications have been received, leaving 3,491 students in danger of being removed on 1 September.

Dian Taylor, Deputy Registrar and Director of Education, stressed: "GOC registration should not be taken lightly - it is a legal requirement and is crucial to patients' protection and wellbeing. Our advice to students is to act now: getting your application in before the summer break could save a lot of worry later."

Students who are not registered may be excluded from clinical training and examinations. The GOC may not recognise the qualifications of applicants for full registration who were not registered for all or part of their training.

Any students who have not received their application form should contact the registration team on 020 7580 3898 (option 1) to update their contact details. Or alternatively email superinfo@optical.org. Forms are also available to download from the GOC website.

Students who pay now but decide not continue with their course in September will receive a full refund.

Notes

1. Optometry and dispensing optics come into contact with patients during their educational courses and vocational training. Since 30 June 2005, it has been a legal requirement for optometry and dispensing optics students to be registered with the General Optical Council.

About the General Optical Council

The GOC is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Its purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education and conduct amongst opticians. The Council currently registers around 22,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.

General Optical Council