Membership Categories and Subscription Fees

Member (MCOptom)

College Membership is awarded to those who satisfy the following criteria:

The successful completion of an undergraduate course in Optometry
The successful completion of the College’s Pre-Registration Training Period
Successfully passing the PQEII Examination (Final Assessment from 2006)
Registration with the General Optical Council

Optometrists who have trained overseas may gain membership by successfully registering with the General Optical Council first.

Foundation Fellow (FCOptom)
The College was founded in 1980 as the single successor body to The British Optical Association and The Scottish Association of Opticians together with the examining function of The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers. On the foundation of the College Fellows or Members of these bodies were awarded Foundation Fellowship.

Fellow by Examination (FCOptom)

Fellowship by examination is awarded on successful completion of four Higher Qualification certificates.

Student Associate Members
Associate Membership is awarded to those studying optometry at the eight training departments. There is no fee for this category.

Non practising Members and Fellows

Members and Fellows of the who retire from practice or take a career break may take up non-practising membership of the College as a way of keeping in touch with the profession.

Honorary Fellow
Honorary Fellowship is awarded at the discretion of the Council to individuals who have made a significant and distinctive contribution to optics. Honorary Fellows may not be optometrists, may not hold office as members of the Council and may not vote at general meetings.

Life Fellow

Life Fellowship is awarded on the strength of an outstanding contribution to the profession of optometry. Life Fellows have the same rights and privileges as other Fellows; while required to pay no annual subscriptions.

The Electoral College makes nominations for Life Fellowship to Council. If you would like to nominate a Member for Life Fellowship please write, in the strictest confidence, to the President of the College.

Subscriptions for 2007/08

The College subscription year runs from 1 October to 30 September. As last year, College Council has agreed to donate £1 from each Member’s subscription to the Benevolent Fund of the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists, in recognition of the support that the fund provides to Members and their dependents.

Members who pay their own subscription to the College of Optometrists, are entitled to claim tax relief on their annual fee at their marginal % rate of tax. This could significantly reduce the cost of their subscription. Claims for tax relief may also be made in arrears for up to six years. Members are advised to contact their tax office with any queries.

Members resident in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands (home)	£274.42
Members (home) reduced rate (on request)	£154.42
Members resident elsewhere (Overseas)	£154.42
Members (Overseas) reduced rate (on request)	£86.42
Newly Qualified Members - per year for the first two complete years of membership (home)	£154.42
Newly Qualified Members - per year for the first two complete years of membership (Overseas)	£86.42
Non Practising Members and Fellows (home and overseas)	£36.42
Fellows resident in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands (home)	£274.42
Fellows (home) reduced rate (on request)	£154.42
Fellows resident elsewhere (overseas)	£154.42
Fellows (overseas) reduced rate (on request)	£86.42

Reduced rates for membership may be available to Members working for fewer than 50 days per year. Please contact the Membership team for more information.

For further information regarding Membership of the College of Optometrists please contact Millie Thomas on 020 7766 4392

The College of Optometrists

Membership Categories & Subscription Fees