Dispensing Optician
- Regulators
-
- General Optical Council
- Nations
- United Kingdom
- Sectors
-
- Health and care
Regulatory or professional bodies
Primary regulator
- Regulatory authority
- General Optical Council
- Address
-
10 Old Bailey
London
EC4M 7NG - Email address
- international@optical.org
- Website
- https://www.optical.org
- Phone number
- +44 (0)207 5803898
Regulation
Regulation summary
A dispensing optician advises on, fits and supplies the most appropriate spectacles or contact lenses after taking account of each patient's visual, lifestyle and vocational needs. They are also able to fit and provide aftercare for contact lenses after undergoing further specialist training and being entered onto the specialty register.
Regulation type
Reserved activities
1) Fitting contact lenses when not a registered optometrist, dispensing optician or medical practitioner
2) Selling optical appliances (with specific exceptions) or zero powered contact lenses otherwise than under the supervision of a registered optometrist, dispensing optician or medical practitioner
Protected titles
Dispensing optician
"Optician" unless nobody could reasonably think that they are registered with the GOC
- More about regulated activities and titles
- https://optical.org/en/publications/illegal-practice-protocol/
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
-
To qualify as a dispensing optician you must:
1) Complete and pass a GOC-approved qualification in dispensing optics. There are three modes of study to choose from:
a) A two-year full time training course at a GOC-approved GOC qualification followed by one year’s salaried work in a practice under supervision or
b) A GOC-approved three-year day release training course combined with suitable employment or
c) A GOC-approved three-year distance learning qualification, combined with suitable employment.2) Pass all parts of the GOC-approved qualification, offered by either ABDO Exams or Anglia Ruskin University, depending on which training course you choose to follow.
3) Register with the GOC. Please note, students must be registered as student registrants from the beginning of their studies, for which a fee applies.
- More about qualification
- https://optical.org/en/education-and-cpd/education/uk-routes-to-registration/
Professionals from outside the UK
- Recognition for professionals outside the UK
- Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
- Summary of routes
-
Full recognition under the EU Directive 2005/36/EU is only available for Swiss nationals and applicants, their spouses or dependents, or a UK national settled in Switzerland or their spouse or dependents.
Other overseas professionals will need to apply under the "International" route. This requires registering as a student and completing a pre-qualifying period before sitting professional qualifying examinations.
- More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
- https://optical.org/en/registration/register-from-overseas/
Registration
- Registration requirements
-
If you have completed the relevant education and training in the UK and wish to be a dispensing optician, you must complete an application to be registered with us. It is illegal to practise if you are not registered.
You must also pay the appropriate application fee.
- More about registration
- https://optical.org/en/registration/join-the-register/register-as-a-fully-qualified-individual/
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
-
Opticians Act 1989
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/44/contents
- Title of relevant act or charter
-
GOC rules and regulations
- Website link to legislation
- https://optical.org/en/about-us/how-we-work/rules-and-regulations/