Trainees can begin their Pre-Registration placement once they have gained a degree in optometry at 2:2 or above. Students whose degree grade is below 2.2 need to pass both the practical and written sections of the College’s PQE Part 1 examination before entering Pre-Registration training. Trainees also need to hold a Certificate of Clinical Competency to enter the PRP. This is normally awarded to students when they graduate and is valid for 2 years from the date on which they graduate.
During the PRP, trainees are able to consolidate and develop their clinical skills under the supervision of an experienced optometrist. Throughout the PRP, the trainee's confidence and competence increases. This progress is formally assessed on an ongoing basis by a College-appointed Assessor, who will conduct quarterly assessments to identify whether or not the trainee has reached the required level of competence. Upon successful completion of all the competencies in the quarterly assessments the trainee is able to apply for the one-day Final Assessment (held over two half days).
At the end of the PRP the trainee will be a competent clinician - not yet a ‘super optometrist' but a capable and competent professional.
The New Scheme for Registration is based on continuous assessment in the workplace during the pre-registration period, followed by a one day Final Assessment which includes all of the GOC Stage 2 high priority competencies, and a sample of the medium and standard priority competencies. From summer 2005 the whole assessment process replaces the Professional Qualifying Examination Part II (PQEII).
The College has successfully piloted an assessment framework during 2004/005 which ensures that workplace-based assessment is standardised and has rigour.
The design and construction of the Scheme includes:
- a logbook kept by trainees which records patients seen
- monthly reviews of the logbook by the trainee’s supervisor
- quarterly formal assessments by a College-appointed and trained assessor
- action plans agreed between the assessor, supervisor and trainee after each quarterly assessment
- a one day Final Assessment which takes place in examination conditions