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General Optical Council

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About us

About us

In this section you can discover how the Council works, read about our history and partnerships, and download legislation.

You can also find out more about working for us, current vacancies, and GOC tenders.

Content Panels

Search our registers

Find a registered individual practitioner or business.

Search now

Hearings

Information about our upcoming fitness to practise hearings.

This month's hearings

Our Council

The General Optical Council is composed of 12 members

Read their biographies here

Working for us

Healthcare regulation in the UK is currently undergoing reform and modernisation – so this is an exciting time to join us.

See our current vacancies

In this section...

About us
Introduction to the GOC
Mission and values
Strategic plan
How we work
People
Legislation
History
Partnerships
Our governance
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Data and information
Working for us

Who are you?

Current registrants
Potential registrants
General public
Partner organisations
Journalists and media professionals

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About
Standards
Education
Registration
Complaints
News & publications
Get involved

Introduction to the GOC
Mission and values
Strategic plan
How we work
People
Legislation
History

Partnerships
Our governance
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Data and information
Working for us

Mission and values

Read about our mission and the values that guide our work.

Working for us

Professional regulation is going through an exciting and challenging period of change, so it's a good time to join us. Find out more about our current vacancies.

Introduction to the GOC
Mission and values
Strategic plan
How we work
People
Legislation
History

Partnerships
Our governance
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Data and information
Working for us

Standards for individuals

Read our standards for individual optometrists, dispensing opticians and students.

Standards for businesses

Read our standards for optical businesses.

What to study and where
Criteria for qualification and registration
Guidance for students
Standards of Education and Training
Accreditation of new programmes
Quality Assurance
Specialty qualifications

A Career in Optics
Continuing Education and Training (CET)
CET Review
Education Strategic Review (ESR)

Education Strategic Review

Log CET points

What to study and where
Criteria for qualification and registration
Guidance for students
Standards of Education and Training
Accreditation of new programmes
Quality Assurance
Specialty qualifications

A Career in Optics
Continuing Education and Training (CET)
CET Review
Education Strategic Review (ESR)

The register
Applying for registration
Renewing your registration
Restoring to the registers
Registration fees
Confirmation of professional status
Updating your details

Making declarations
International applicants
Registration guidance
Registration forms

Renew your registration

Search the register

Search our register of optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical students and optical businesses.

The register
Applying for registration
Renewing your registration
Restoring to the registers
Registration fees
Confirmation of professional status
Updating your details

Making declarations
International applicants
Registration guidance
Registration forms

How to make a complaint
Fitness to practise guidance
Information for witnesses
Hearings
New Fitness to Practise Rules
Raising concerns

How to complain

Find out how to make a complaint about an optometrist or dispensing optician, about illegal practice in the optical sector, or about the GOC.

Hearings

Find details of our past and upcoming fitness to practise hearings.

How to make a complaint
Fitness to practise guidance
Information for witnesses
Hearings
New Fitness to Practise Rules
Raising concerns

News and press releases
News Item
Press Kit
Publications
Love Your Lenses

Press releases

Read our latest news and press releases.

eBulletin

Read past issues of our registrants' eBulletin.

News and press releases
News Item
Press Kit
Publications
Love Your Lenses

Consultations
Events
Council meetings and papers

Consultations

Click here to find out more about any upcoming consultations and our responses to other consultations.

Council meetings and papers

View details and papers for past and future Council meetings. Council meetings are open to the public.

Consultations
Events
Council meetings and papers

Search the registers

Sections

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Information for...

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Press / Media
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Quick Links

Search our registers
Changes to CET post-2012
Our complaints process
Login to MyGOC
Hearings
Working for us

© 2020 General Optical Council 10 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7NG
Tel: 020 7580 3898 Fax: Email: goc@optical.org
The GOC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1150137)

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