College of Optometry
The College of Optometrists is the Professional, Scientific and
Examining Body for Optometry in the UK, working for the public
benefit.
Supporting its Members in all aspects of professional development,
the College provides Pre-Registration training and assessment,
continuous professional development opportunities, and advice and
guidance on professional conduct and standards, enabling our
Members to serve their patients well and contribute to the
wellbeing of local communities.
Scheme for Registration of UK Trained Optometrists
The College is a GOC-approved provider of the Scheme for
Registration of UK trained optometrists. The Scheme, which is open
to Optometry graduates who have obtained a degree at 2:2 or above,
provides trainees with the opportunity to consolidate and
develop their clinical skills under the supervision of an experienced optometrist
during the Pre Registration Period (PRP).
The scheme is based on the continuous assessment of trainees in
their workplace, carried out by independent, College-appointed
Assessors who visit trainees quarterly to assess their competence
and discuss any areas that require further attention. Once
the Assessor is satisfied that the trainee has evidenced all of the
competencies required, the trainee may enter a 2 day Final
Assessment in examination conditions.
Professional Standards & Ethics
The College is representative of the whole optometric profession
in the United Kingdom, having the majority of all practising
optometrists in membership. It is looked to by the profession
and GOC to lay down
appropriate standards of professional conduct for optometrists and
has a Code of Ethics to which all College members are required to
subscribe. The College issues Guidelines for Professional
Conduct, which are regularly revised and complement the GOC's new
Code of Conduct.
The College provides a Performance Review scheme for
practitioners where the GOC's Investigation Committee feels that
they would benefit from advice and support from the professional
body. The constructive scheme, which is not part of the
disciplinary process at all, aims to support practitioners, to
reduce the possibility of further complaints being made
against them. There is a charge for non-members to use this
service.
The College provides the services of an Optometric Adviser to
answer queries from Members and others, and provides advice and
guidance to the profession on clinical issues.
Publications
The College publishes:
- A learned journal, Ophthalmic and Physiological
Optics, six times a year;
- A continuing education and training journal Optometry
in Practice, that incorporates incorporating In
Focus, the College newsletter, four times a year
- A monthly e-newsletter for its members, giving timely
information about College and clinical matters
- A range of clinical advice and framework documents
College Library
Officially named the 'British Optical Association Library'
after its 1901 founder, the Library is one of the largest and most
comprehensive collections of optical works, both modern and
historical, in existence, containing some 6,500 optical books and
pamphlets.
The Library is both a reference and a lending library.
It's primary function is to support the education and
continuing professional development of College members.
The library also provides answers to enquiries on vision and
related topics from members of the general public, national and
public libraries and researchers from all over the world.
The Public is welcome to use the library (by prior
appointment) to carry out relevant research.
Benevolent Fund
The Benevolent Fund of the College of Optometrists and the
Association of Optometrists has been in operation since 2000. The
fund helps to give financial assistance to optometrists, families
and dependants when in times of need. Any College Member in need of
support can apply to the fund.
The Fund is run by nine Managing Trustees, six elected by the
College Council and three by the AOP Council. The current Trustees
are Richard Broughton (Chairman), David Parkins, Norbert
Cohn, Jonathon Kay, Michael Meadley, Richard Llewellyn, Ruth
Cuthbert, Ian Shaw and Jonathan Swan.
The Trustees consider a wide range of requests for assistance from
active and retired members of the optometric profession and their
families. Current grants include monthly payments to elderly or ill
members of the profession or the widows of deceased practitioners,
financial help with beneficiaries' electricity, gas or telephone
bills or residential care fees, and grants to help infirm
beneficiaries to go on holiday.
Continuing Education & Training & CPD
The College's voluntary CET scheme championed good practice from its
initial first pilot in 1996. In 2005, as Continuing Education
and Training became compulsory for continued GOC registration, the
College handed over administrative responsibility for the
scheme.
The College publishes a CET journal, Optometry in Practice, four
times a year. The journal, which is sent to all practising UK
members, contains around 30 CET points over the course of a
year. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics
(OPO) Journal is one of the most specialised
optometric journals in the world and is held in high regard
internationally. This College journal is published every
two months.
The College runs an annual Conference, Optometry Tomorrow,
coinciding with its AGM. A two-day conference programme is designed
to address the needs of practising optometrists, covering a wide
range of topical issues, delivered in lecture and workshop formats.
In 2005, delegates could gain up to 15.5 CET points from
attending.
The College offers its Members the opportunity to study for
Higher Qualifications in a number of specialist areas including:
Therapeutics, Ocular Conditions (Glaucoma and Diabetes), Contact
Lens Practice, Orthoptics and the Rehabilitation of Visual
Impairment.
The College provides a Performance Review scheme for
practitioners referred by the GOC's Investigation Committee. The
constructive scheme, which is not part of the disciplinary process
at all, aims to support practitioners, to reduce the possibility of
further complaints being made against them. There is a charge for
non-members to use this service.
Research
One of the prime aims of the College is the advancement for
the public benefit of the study of, and research into, optometry,
ophthalmic optics and related subjects and the publication of the
results. In recent years the College's research fund has
supported appropriate research in these areas through, for example,
its research fellowships and travel bursaries. The College's
Research Committee is reviewing its remit to ensure that it is more
pro-active in identifying research needs and disseminating the
research it funds, and is drafting a strategic plan to further
develop the research work of the College.
British Optical Association Museum
Founded by J.H. Sutcliffe of the British Optical Association in
1901, this is a remarkable museum collection of over twelve
thousand outstanding objects and archival items relating to
the history of ophthalmic optics (optometry), the human eye and
visual aids, as well as the representation of these subjects in
art. Many of the objects in the museum are rare or unique. They're
certainly eye-catching! When the BOA voluntarily disbanded in 1980
the Museum was entrusted to the care of the new College of
Optometrists. Now in its second century it continues to
be recognised as the oldest and one of the best optical museum
collections in the world.
The Public is welcome to visit the museum (by prior
appointment), book a tour of the College meeting rooms, carry out
relevant research using our rich archival resources, or
write in with questions on which we can help. At our Central
London headquarters we present both permanent and temporary
exhibitions to visitors. These MusEYEum web pages serve as a record
of some of our past exhibitions and, through virtual displays,
allow us to share this rich optical heritage with an
even wider international audience.
We invite you to take a look as you may be surprised by what you
will see.
Please take time to explore this MusEYEum section of the College
website, choosing from the section links below. Together
these comprise one of the most extensive sets of specialist
subject museum pages in the United Kingdom.
Contact us
on 020 784 32410
Email: info@resourcing.uk.com