College of Optometrists

Independent Prescribing

What is involved

Purpose

The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that you have the knowledge and skills to enter the specialist register in Independent Prescribing. 

Format

The assessment will consist of a key features assessment. An example can be found on the home page of the “Common Final Assessment (CFA) for Specialist Qualifications in Therapeutics” webpage. The examination will be based on the published clinical management guidelines. It will consist of 75 multiple choice questions (single best answer or multiple answer), divided into patient centred scenarios of between 3 and 5 items.  The examination will last 90 minutes and will be computer based.

There are no grades. You will either pass or fail overall.

Content

The content of the examination will be drawn from the Clinical Management Guidelines which are published on the College of Optometrists website: http://www.college-optometrists.org/cmgs

 
Questions relate to the application of clinical knowledge in terms of differential diagnosis, interpreting clinical signs, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management, monitoring, and prescribing safely and professionally (including risk assessment).