15 July 2021

GOC approves changes to patient encounter requirements

The General Optical Council have approved modified patient encounter requirements for registered dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians who are current trainees on the Scheme for Registration.

The General Optical Council have approved modifications to required patient encounters for registered dispensing opticians (DOs) and contact lens opticians (CLOs) who are currently on the Scheme for Registration. The new requirements apply to all DOs and CLOs who are completing the new logbook 520 patient encounters.

The modified requirements are as follows:

Dispensing opticians

  • Qualified DOs on the Scheme for Registration must complete a logbook of 460 patient encounters (rather than 520 usually required). Qualified DOs are exempt from completing the minimum number of required dispensing encounters in their logbook.
  • However, qualified DOs will not be able to use more than 40 dispensing encounters towards the total of 460 patient encounters.
  • Qualified DOs will still be assessed on all competencies relating to dispensing, and will be required to complete the compulsory patient episodes linked to these competencies.

Contact lens opticians

  • Qualified CLOs on the Scheme for Registration will require 380 patient encounters to complete the logbook (rather than the 520 usually required). CLOs are exempt from completing both the minimum number of required dispensing and contact lens encounters in their logbook.
  • However, qualified CLOs will not be able to use more than 40 dispensing encounters and 60 contact lens encounters and towards the total of 380 patient encounters.
  • Qualified CLOs will still be assessed on all competencies relating to dispensing and contact lenses, and will be required to complete the compulsory patient episodes linked to these competencies.

The modified requirements apply immediately.

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