Membership

Everything we do starts and ends with our members. We are here to support you at every stage of your career – from the first days at university to the highest levels of professional achievement. We make sure that you have the knowledge, skills and resources to fulfil your professional potential and provide the highest quality eye health care to your patients.

In this section

Invest in your future with membership of your professional body. We offer a range of membership packages and benefits to suit every stage of your career.

Fellowship of the College (FCOptom) is an acknowledgement of outstanding professionals and their commitment to the profession, experience and accomplishments.

We have developed a number of useful resources to help you raise awareness of your profession and promote your practice in your community.

We've put together a support pack for members working as locums in multiple practices.

If your circumstances have changed and you would like to change your membership category, please let us know.

Career breaks are becoming more common as many optometrists take on family responsibilities or recuperate from illness, take time out to travel, or focus on learning or other interests and projects. 

The Benevolent Fund, set up by the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists (AOP), provides short or long term financial support for any member, past or present, of the UK optical profession and their dependents.

All of our members sign up to the following code of conduct, which outlines our expectations for professionalism, good practice and prioritising patient care.

Free membership

Free membership

Choose your membership option

For UK-registered dispensing opticians, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses or orthoptists

Invest in your future with membership your professional body. We off a range of membership packages - and invaluable member benefits - for optometrists at every stage of their careers.

You can take advantage of a wide range of benefits with College membership. Take a look at the full list below, and make sure you don’t miss out.

The College of Optometrists is an HMRC approved professional body. If you are a UK taxpayer, and you self-fund your membership, you can claim back the tax on your fee.