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GOC to consult on new CET scheme from 2013
An enhanced continuing education and training (CET) scheme is
likely to form the major part of revalidation for optometrists and
dispensing opticians from 2013.
At a consultation in London at the end of March, the GOC told
those attending that it was looking at how CET could be enhanced to
provide the evidence base for revalidation, and be targeted to the
key risks identified in optics by recent independent research.
Jon Levett, the GOC Director of Standards, stressed that nothing
had been finalised although it was unlikely that employer appraisal
was not to be used as a basis for revalidation.
Linda Kennaugh said that 96% of registrants had met the min CET
requirements for the last 3 yr cycle- and fewer than 200 would be
removed from the register at the beginning of April due to CET
failure. Eleven registrants had already met their next CET
requirement only three months into the 2010-2012 cycle.
Nearly 60 per cent of total CET points awarded were from
distance learning and some subject areas or competencies were
better covered than others.
'A very large number of registrants are getting points from
quite a small range of CET in comparison with what's out there,'
said Kennaugh. Many gained points at the last minute rather than
taking part throughout the cycle, she added.
Among issues arising from the GOC's recent revalidation events
around the country were whether more CET should be face to face and
whether CET should be compulsory in some competencies. A scale of
points, with more awarded for some modalities of CET such as peer
review, was also suggested.
Based on risk assessment, possible areas for compulsory CET were
record keeping, communication, decision-making and also
non-clinical skills such as legal frameworks, conduct and
children's issues. Contact lens CET might also be compulsory for
optometrists who fit contact lenses, as it is for contact lens
opticians.
Delegates supported a three-year rather than annual CET cycle
and the total number of points, or hours, of CET needed would
depend on which competencies and modalities were compulsory. There
was also support for discretionary powers for the GOC to deal with
cases of exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness or
maternity and career breaks.
Registrants can have their say on the future of CET by
completing the GOC's online surveys at www.optical.org by April 6.
The results of the CET consultation will also be posted on the
site, where two independent reports into risk profiling and
employer appraisals are now published, along with feedback from the
revalidation events in February. Further consultation will be held
later this year