18 August 2025

First CLiP placements mark milestone in optometry education

This August, a major milestone in optometry education begins as the first cohort of students start their Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placements - part of the new integrated master’s degrees introduced under the updated Education and Training Requirements.

This August, a major milestone in optometry education begins as the first cohort of students begin their Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placements - part of the new integrated master’s degrees introduced under the updated Education and Training Requirements.

At the University of Lancashire, 16 optometry students will begin their workplace-based learning through a 44-week placement programme, running until June 2026. These students are already qualified as Dispensing Opticians and so are able to qualify in just three years, making them the first of the cohort to take CLiP placements.

The College facilitates, supports, assesses, and quality-assures each CLiP placement, on behalf of our university partners. This is coordinated through the CLiP Portal, a bespoke online platform designed to guide the application process, support supervisors, and provide live student progress data for all involved throughout the CLiP programme.

Over 500 placements confirmed for 2026

Momentum is already building for the start, in January and July 2026, of CLiP placements for students from the other seven universities who started new degrees in 2023. Over the past four years, the College has worked closely with employers and universities to ensure every eligible student has a place secured, and a great placement experience.

  • Over 500 placements confirmed
  • Over 2,500 applications submitted
  • More than 800 vacancies offered across the UK

This is a significant achievement that reflects the commitment of employers, educators, and the College in shaping the next generation of optical professionals.

“Having worked on developing CLiP since I joined the College in 2021, it is really exciting to see the first students starting their pre-registration supervised practice on CLiP. The new GOC requirements have given us the opportunity to build on 20 years of successful delivery of the Scheme for Registration and find ways to ensure all those that support students on their journey to registration are able to collaborate, develop, and assure standards for, the next generation of optometrists.”

Professor Lizzy Ostler, Director of Education

Find out more

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