You must keep your professional knowledge and skills up-to-date¹ so you continue to practise safely. 

You must keep up-to-date with the law, the GOC’s Standards of Practice and guidance that is relevant to your work.

You should be familiar with guidance issued by The College of Optometrists and other relevant bodies.

You should be familiar with developments that affect your work and with changes in practice, the needs of patients and eye care services.

You should take steps to monitor, reflect on, and improve the quality of your work, for example through clinical audit ^2, 3 and peer review.⁴

If you take a break from practising for a significant amount of time, you should ensure your knowledge and skills are up to date before returning to optometric practice.